Why are so many poems downers, or negative? Does a flower seller smash the flowers and then try to sell them?
Year after year, the search is for exceptional poems, with individuality, creativity, originality, and the ability to write a golden line of poetry.
Are you writing poetry for the art, or writing poetry to belong? Or is your poem writing a kind of highly personal journal in search of yourself?Far and few between is the poetry writing for the art, and not writing as an effort to belong to a group, or as identity development.
Are you writing poetry for the art, or writing poetry to belong? Or is your poem writing a kind of highly personal journal in search of yourself?Far and few between is the poetry writing for the art, and not writing as an effort to belong to a group, or as identity development.
The split second someone says poetry is this and not that, the freaky acceptance-liberals will object. Why? Because they must 'belong.' Egalitarianism wants to reduce all art to the same level -- which is a conflation of principles
-- everyone is to be free -- but their artful abilities are not equal. Poetry is not to be reduced to safe spaces and lack of free speech in universities and intellectual clubs.
Random poetry, yelling poetry, impromptu poetry, diary poetry, therapy poetry, group poetry, political poetry, social issues poetry, joke poetry, limericks, roses are red poetry, are not poetry. Subject is just as important as the writing. Originality is crucial -- remember, songsters sue each other over stolen songs, Youtube monetizes songs per the artist, radio stations pay fees to musicians -- so if a poem is written just like other people so no one can tell the difference as to who wrote the poem, it probably isn't a poem.A poem is created artwork and needs to be relatable to more than one person.
To write a good poem takes obssession. And a lifetime.A poet is born not made. An old saying, but true. The idea of a person choosing to be a poet, like choosing a career, is fatuous at the least. And, who on earth wants to be a poet? What a miserable life, sitting around at a desk writing on paper or a computer. And few people want to read or listen to poetry, which often seems so introverted and personal.
Now that the negatives are out of the way, what makes for a good poem? The art of writing must be evident. There must be something redeeming in what the poem is about. There reader must be inspired about something, not dragged to an endsville downer. The reader of a poem will be made to feel something, not think something. A poem needs to be fun to read. Perfection in a poem is always of interest, but there are many poems which are great but not "perfect." Whatever the poem is, it needs to be by and for real people.
Now that the negatives are out of the way, what makes for a good poem? The art of writing must be evident. There must be something redeeming in what the poem is about. There reader must be inspired about something, not dragged to an endsville downer. The reader of a poem will be made to feel something, not think something. A poem needs to be fun to read. Perfection in a poem is always of interest, but there are many poems which are great but not "perfect." Whatever the poem is, it needs to be by and for real people.
Why only two poems a quarter year? These are dismal days. There aren't that many poets. There are millions more writing poetry, but most are in early search days, misled by internet fads and fashions.
What makes for a good poem?
The art of writing must be evident.
A poem, sooner or later, needs to have a ‘good turn of phrase’ in the poem. A poem which is more or less a summary of an idea or feeling, will not be of interest.
There must be something redeeming in what the poem is about. There is a big difference between what a ‘prop’ is in a poem, and what the poem is about. A provocative subject will not make a poem.
There is no, “I enjoyed the poem so it is good.”
The reader must be inspired about something, not dragged to an endsville downer. If a poem is about, injustice, injustice, injustice! — it is journalism not poetry.
A good poem will in some manner prove empathy. This needs to be dealt with carefully. Everyonefeels bad that someone’s house is destroyed in a tornado. Got it, but then what? Subjects yanking the readers chain is a faek approach.
The art of writing must be evident.
A poem, sooner or later, needs to have a ‘good turn of phrase’ in the poem. A poem which is more or less a summary of an idea or feeling, will not be of interest.
There must be something redeeming in what the poem is about. There is a big difference between what a ‘prop’ is in a poem, and what the poem is about. A provocative subject will not make a poem.
There is no, “I enjoyed the poem so it is good.”
The reader must be inspired about something, not dragged to an endsville downer. If a poem is about, injustice, injustice, injustice! — it is journalism not poetry.
A good poem will in some manner prove empathy. This needs to be dealt with carefully. Everyonefeels bad that someone’s house is destroyed in a tornado. Got it, but then what? Subjects yanking the readers chain is a faek approach.
Mediocrity in Art or Poetry is the worst. Why? Because people don't like to be fooled, or bored or spoken to with subterfuge.
John Holmes, The Poet's Work, 1939