Investigative Poetry published with Muse India

Investigative Poetry

Investigative writing is about delving deep into the truth behind a thing. Many a times, we come across an event that we doubt having been caused because of some ulterior motive. This doubt causes us to search into the event. Many writers and poets too have often hinted at the truth behind a thing and have disclosed the secrets.

Investigative poetry is such a genre in which a poet investigates an event in a role of an investigative writer. One of the great names in this genre is of Charles Olson, a great bard of America with whom Edward Sanders finds investigative poetry to have born. In investigative writing the writers investigate into the explicit and laugh at the implicit. This is a serious task though, but the responsibility is great. Often the truth is too terrible, though it sometimes turns out to be extremely beautiful.

Being certain that they and I
But lived where motley is worn:
All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
--W. B. Yeats, "Easter 1916"

Investigative poetry has some unique features, which define the genre. It investigates the thing that stands before us in disguise. The on-the-screen happening is different but the fact is somewhat else.

Investigation, however, involves high risk of being false at times. For when you doubt a thing you begin your investigation. The doubt may not be validated as well. But if the doubts lead to a truth and the truth is proved only then the job is achieved.

Note: First published in Muse India, Issue 27, Sep-Oct 2009, ISSN: 0975-1815 with slight changes.