Spectra (book)
Encyclopedia
Spectra: A Book of Poetic Experiments was a small volume of poetry
published in 1916 by American
writers Witter Bynner
, who wrote under the pseudonym
"Emanuel Morgan", and Arthur Davison Ficke
, who wrote as "Anne Knish." The book was intended as satire
directed at the Imagism
poetry movement.
Spectra was preceded by a brief manifesto
outlining the Spectric method as a school
:
The poems in the collection were identified by opus number
s rather than titles, and mostly take on a silly tone.
From "Opus 6" by Emanuel Morgan:
Anne Knish's Opus 118:
Spectra was intended solely as a joke. Initially, even the publisher was fooled by the book, but he was let in on the joke before going to press. The authors assumed the ridiculousness of the work would shine through, but it was actually accepted as a legitimate poetic movement for two years. In 1918, Brynner admitted in a public speech that he had co-authored the book and explained the hoax.
Both Bynner and Ficke were accomplished poets of their time, but the Spectra poems are probably the most widely remembered of their work. The authors both admitted to the hoax having backfired to a certain extent, as it overshadowed their more serious work. And Ficke stated that he actually learned a good deal about composition while writing as Knish, adding that it actually influenced his later work.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
published in 1916 by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writers Witter Bynner
Witter Bynner
Harold Witter Bynner was an American poet, writer and scholar, known for his long residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at what is now the Inn of the Turquoise Bear.-Early life:...
, who wrote under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Emanuel Morgan", and Arthur Davison Ficke
Arthur Davison Ficke
Arthur Davison Ficke was an American poet and lawyer known for several books of poetry, including Sonnets of a Portrait-Painter and for his involvement in the literary hoax of Spectrism . He is also known for his relationship with Edna St...
, who wrote as "Anne Knish." The book was intended as satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
directed at the Imagism
Imagism
Imagism was a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry that favored precision of imagery and clear, sharp language. The Imagists rejected the sentiment and discursiveness typical of much Romantic and Victorian poetry. This was in contrast to their contemporaries, the Georgian poets,...
poetry movement.
Spectra was preceded by a brief manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
outlining the Spectric method as a school
School (discipline)
A school of thought is a collection or group of people who share common characteristics of opinion or outlook of a philosophy, discipline, belief, social movement, cultural movement, or art movement....
:
- "In the first place, it speaks, to the mind of that process of diffraction by which are disarticulated the several colored and other rays of which light is composed. . . ."
- "In its second sense, the term Spectric relates to the reflex vibrations of physical sight, and suggests the luminous appearance which is seen after the exposure of the eye to intense light, and, by analogy, the after-colors of the poets initial vision."
- "In its third sense, Spectric connotes the overtones, adumbrations, or spectres which for the poet haunt all objects of both the seen and unseen world. . . "
The poems in the collection were identified by opus number
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
s rather than titles, and mostly take on a silly tone.
From "Opus 6" by Emanuel Morgan:
- If I were only dafter
- I might be making hymns
- To the liquor of your laughter
- And the lacquer of your limbs.
Anne Knish's Opus 118:
- If bathing were a virtue, not a lust
- I would be dirtiest.
- To some, housecleaning is a holy rite.
- For myself, houses would be empty
- But for the golden motes dancing in sunbeams.
- Tax-assessors frequently overlook valuables.
- Today they noted my jade.
- But my memory of you escaped them.
Spectra was intended solely as a joke. Initially, even the publisher was fooled by the book, but he was let in on the joke before going to press. The authors assumed the ridiculousness of the work would shine through, but it was actually accepted as a legitimate poetic movement for two years. In 1918, Brynner admitted in a public speech that he had co-authored the book and explained the hoax.
Both Bynner and Ficke were accomplished poets of their time, but the Spectra poems are probably the most widely remembered of their work. The authors both admitted to the hoax having backfired to a certain extent, as it overshadowed their more serious work. And Ficke stated that he actually learned a good deal about composition while writing as Knish, adding that it actually influenced his later work.