THE POETRY OF ADELKERNAN

Surrealism , as we know, is the art of producing fantastic and incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, music and drama, by arranging words or objects in unnatural juxtaposition or combinations.

AdelKernan 's poetry is surrealistic, bu he does not declare himself openly as such. He arranges his creations to speak for him and for themselves. He prefers to be seen as a poet who does not write "straight" linear poetry, as he himself says"

"My poems tend towards the abstract end of the spectrum. What is the point of writing "straight" linear poetry? ........I try to invoke a vague sense of mood or emotion rather than to convey a concise message."

Kernan is faithful to his poetic dogma, and all his fourteen poems, submitted to OP, are stamped with his poetic genius or discipline. Surrealists strive at obscuring the message in their art, thus inducing the appreciative person to seek the soul or essence of their work. The surrealistic poet, however, hardly suceeds in suppressing or obscurng the message in his poems, since conveying a message is an integral or intrinsic factor of every poem, the hidden truth:

In the poem , "Forced Entry", Kernan induces the appreciative lover of poetry to wander away into realms of fantasy and dreams, but, in due course, he returns the reader to
the reality of Nature. For in the soul of Nature are real truths hidden:

Dawn consumed the courtly scene/ Washes all wounded clean."

In Forced Entry, I do not see tbe connection between the title and the theme. Relevance seems to be absent, But that is one of the mystical liberties that surrealists claim. They are unconventional and tend to depart from artistic conventions and genres.

"For something shining under dull
Something fine behind the lining
Cloc kwork moment domino sliding
Forth across the shiny gray polished
Marble, wood, stone, steel
Progressing cycled futures told."

These verses from "Antique Brass) is a good sample of Kernan's surrealitic skill. But he is not altogether surrealistic, as he often displays his versatility as an impressionist, as in "Semi-Precious"
"Stand and be delivered unto/ Transparent treasure veil."

The impressionist in depiction of scenery, objects and emotions selects and uses details intended to achieve effectiveness more by evoking subjective or sensory impressions than by recreating objective reality. This is frequently evident in Kernan's poetry:

"A broken stylus , an abject reality/ Yours truly like myself." (from Retired Activist)


A superb exponent of the poetic craft, while sustaining his surrealistic and impressionistic tendencies, Kernan is meticuluous and impeccable in his use of metaphors and symbols in his poetry. An entire article would have to be written on his use of figurative devices. His versification and metrification are perfect.

MORE TO COME ABOUT ADELKERNAN'S POETRY.
READ ALSO THE POETRY OF JLORIAN.
READ ALSO THE POETRY OF wORDSLINGER, all brief reviews in POETRY FORUMS.

Last edited by cousinsoren 05-21-2009 at 09:49:42 PM