WHAT IS POETRY TODAY?
So! What is poetry today?
Must a poem be set in verse?
Or is that too perverse?
Must it find itself in rhyme?
Or is that too hard a hill to climb?
Must all these verses scan?
Or has there been a ban -
On all of the above?
Should a poem have to make sense?
Or am I just being dense?
Poetry today is all about style.
Its been like that for quite a while.
Nonsense is fine.
Though the length of a line.
Is longer.
Or shorter.
Just because the poet thinks it oughter.
Be so.
The rules for each verse
can be awfully perverse
and so
Of only one thing am I now sure
Most modern poetry is far too obscure!
Author notes
This poem was written to be read aloud. It was written as a comment on a poetry competition where the only criteria was word and line count.
It didn't win the competition but it was anthologised.
How would you answer the question it poses.
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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wonderfuly wrote....... it is hard to say wot a poem is these days there are so many dif aproches to poetry wheafer reading it or writtin it ..i like this it was funny as well as clever in the way it was wrote....smiles ~cheeky~
x
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Glad you liked this one. It was my first piece to be published in a national anthology.
Jim S -
(laughing) hahaha nicely put, a poem about writting poetry that is so awesome and well worded too
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Well after reading the banter back and forth,in comments.I've forgotten what I plan on commenting in reference to the write.I thought it was wonderfully funny.And to me,what a write says.Is far more important then how it's said.I loved it!~~Suseann
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Dear Mr Sqare Gesticulator,
For your information (though I don't know why, as it has nothing to do with you), the other evening when I read this, I had read and commented on ALL of this gentleman's work - much of it being excellent.
This particular piece didn't appeal to me as much and, after having been castigated by many people on here for being too "honest", I thought it would be kinder to say nothing.
As to the spelling - I think it's very important to present a piece, particularly as it is in the public domain, as grammatically accurate as one can.
Robin.
PS Sorry for having this little harangue on your page Jim, and thanks for your suggestion on the change to A Campanologist's Tryst, which I'll look at later (unfortunately have to go to work!) -
okay chill montez, who says i was commenting on your comment? i just find it kind of patronising and arrogant for people to point out spelling errors then not have the decency to at least comment on the actual poetry. that's all. and you could eat off of my doorstep it's so clean.
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Who are YOU to comment on my comment Jamie?
Wash your OWN doorstep (as my Gran used to say|)!
Robin.
NB I thought the poem "interesting", but not brilliantly constructed (as it 'appens!) -
Montez, you are absolutely right. I agree with you and will change it if I can. I should not use aught else but the real word ought, even if I do twist its tail for the obvious rhyme.
Thanks for an honest critique that also includes a solution.
JS -
lol don't you hate when people just point out spelling errors and not even comment on the poetry!? hehe ah annoying! anyway i thought this poem was superb and i really did enjoy it. thanks very much for commenting on my poem by the way! much appreciated! -Jamie
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I think it's ought, rather than aught!
R. -
Thanks for your comments and your opinion. I am afraid that, although I agree with everything else your final statement would mean thet "War and Peace", 1984, "All Quiet on the Western Front" etc would be called poetry. They are all excellent examples of inspired language manipulation to express an idea / opinion but Poetry? I don't think so.
It is that sort of slack definition that makes me think I am not a poet. {That's the title of another piece I'll post soon.} JS -
Hmmm... I guess my answer to the question would be that all verse needs to have a purpose. Leaving form and style behind and getting down to the bare root of poetry there needs to be a focal point.
Just as with many paintings, there needs to be something that captures attention and interlocks the rest of the poem to that point.
Some poems will focus on emotions to paint a picture
Some will paint a picture to evoke emotions
Some with play on sight, sound, feel, taste and smell to do both!
My personal opinion is that... if you have an inspiration, something to write about...AND...you can use language manipulation to your advangtage...any compilation of words becomes poetry.
Good question. Best wishes and
s... ~genielassie~
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Of course! that would be great!
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Thanks for your kind words.
BTW I would like to quote your recent poem at my next poetry group. I sthat OK with you? -
lol I love this! I'm used to reading sad or angry poetry and I guess reading something funny for a change was awesome.
the way you put words together is great!
Keep up the good work!
-Tess
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