What Modern Poetry Is–And Isn't

I love poetry as much as anybody. More than some, I am sure, though of course certainly less than others. I’ve studied it, written it, even been praised by a respected poet as having “it.” So I think I have some credibility in saying that much of what passes for modern poetry is not poetry. It is prose—sometimes pretty good prose—with odd line breaks. It is written simply by stringing together some words, maybe making some odd juxtapositions here and there, and then breaking it up so the appearance is that of poetry. Apparently the writers and readers of this non-poetry have no clue that this is not, in fact, poetry. Even some very well known “poets” are guilty of this.

I really don’t want to point fingers at anyone in particular. In all likelihood, the majority of the people who write this non-poetry earnestly and sincerely believe that what they are producing is poetry, and their feelings would be hurt were I to give some specific examples. Just as it isn’t productive to squash the first efforts of a child, I choose not to squash anyone in particular. It is highly likely that those who write this stuff, should they stumble upon this post of mine, will think I am talking about someone else anyway.

Yet still, if some people recognize themselves in this and are able to get past their hurt feelings and/or egos long enough to absorb what I am saying, the world may be a better place, with less faux poetry and more real stuff.

And anyway, maybe I am just being old fashioned here. Maybe what I should do is just relax and let people call any old string of words poetry. Heck, a computer program could be poetry. But—there is a deeper issue here, and perhaps that issue is worth exploring.

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5 thoughts on “What Modern Poetry Is–And Isn't

  1. Failure is always success says:

    Excuse me sir, but I don´t agree with you. Poetry is just the language of feelings. Poetry is about finding the way out of the cage of words using the only thing we have, words. Is like fighting fire with fire and it has nothing to do with rules, rhymes and mathematics. You can find a vast universe of poetry in numbers though. Feelings don´t understand about rules. Feelings are made of invisible neutrinos almost impossible to be catched. When you catch one of those neutrinos and you make it visible for those who have eyes to see, then you are making poetry.

    That´s my humble opinion

    Excuse me for my english and thanks for your attention

  2. Success is always failure says:

    Anyway I don´t think that my explaination helps to figure out what poetry is. I think no one can tell what is or what isn´t poetry. Depends on the receiver, not in the words. Happens the same with art. I can find more art in two fried eggs than in many of the paintings, sculptures or whatever in many museums.

    Thanks for your attention

  3. Failure is always success says:

    Excuse me sir, but I don´t agree with you. Poetry is just the language of feelings. Poetry is about finding the way out of the cage of words using the only thing we have, words. Is like fighting fire with fire and it has nothing to do with rules, rhymes and mathematics. You can find a vast universe of poetry in numbers though. Feelings don´t understand about rules. Feelings are made of invisible neutrinos almost impossible to be catched. When you catch one of those neutrinos and you make it visible for those who have eyes to see, then you are making poetry.

    That´s my humble opinion

    Excuse me for my english and thanks for your attention

  4. Success is always failure says:

    Anyway I don´t think that my explaination helps to figure out what poetry is. I think no one can tell what is or what isn´t poetry. Depends on the receiver, not in the words. The same happens with art. I can find more art in two fried eggs than in many of the paintings, sculptures or whatever in many museums.

    Thanks for your attention

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