Six Reasons Why Some Won't Read Poetry

I rather doubt some of the more 'artsy' poets will comment because this stings and their position cannot be easily defended. I'm not trying to make enemies. I'm just stating the obvious.

Great article, William. I like poetry, but I like to understand it. In high school our teachers would go over poems with us and point important facts out. As adults we either get it on our own or we don't get it. I don't like that. There are a few here I very much like to read and watch for others to comment. By the end of the comments I might know more than when I had first read it. How can a poem give meaning to one's life if one can not understand it?

I'm not a big fan of poetry, William...I love haiku because it's short and sweet, and I find your poetry fascinating because of the twist and turn of your words. There are very few poets I enjoy reading.

I'm with you all the way here William!
For me, this goes even beyond poetry: visual arts also often have me scratching my head. When people do crazy stuff to the human body and call it art - or when a kindergadener's work is more balanced in color and shape - you get the idea!
I like what you write!

I agree most forcefully with #6. Poetry written to impress usually doesn't. I don't believe in "writing down" I simply write. You forgot that a great deal of poetry simply isn'y very good, including some of mine.

Well, I do read poets even if they are not published. The envy factor does not work with me.

Also in number 6. You are correctly addressing "Academic Poetry" poetry written by English professsors for English professors. The sad reality is tha tmost of the published poetry today is publishe by "xxx university press"

John, I have several very good old poetry books I've picked up at estste and yard sales. Almost all are pre-1960 and probably half were published by a university press. Most of the poems are fairly easy to understand. Having been in the world of university academia, I can tell you a lot of the stuff getting published in unintelligible garbage. Professors get paid for these research articles and it's sort of a status symbol. Just put some sort of math chart in the paper, or have some other 'artsy' geek give his blessing and almost anything can get published. Years ago, a university publication often led to the writing of a book. Today, I think most of the stuff would be better used for inside the fireplace.

I guess I am a peasent at heart but I like the beat poets. i cannot believe that this year is the 50 th anniversity of "On The Road" Sad to say, I rmemeber when itr was published. Howell as well.

Hail Bill...Writer of the best article on poetry that I've read here. A must read for all wanna be poets.
I wish that I could've given you 20 stars.

Your article is not just a set of private Bill emotions. It's a wake up call and a road map for us all. For Gather. Yes Gather.

Re 3...I'm in touch with my feminine side but I've no doubts about my masculinity. Perhaps having no doubts allows me to explore my eve side without feeling threatened.

1. Self absorption or ego. I don't mean selfishness. A lot of poets are into their own work and think it better than other poets, so they tend to think other poets, unless they have been published or highly regarded, as beneath them.

Having been published and national and international poetry awards, I don't think lower of anyone who has not been published. In fact I understand just how hard it is to get published.

2. Envy. This is way too common among poets who struggle to write good verse.

Not sure what you are talking about here.


3. Homophobia, especially with American men. Quite a few men think poetry is a sign of femininity. It's not considered macho to write or read 'flowery' verse, as if all verse is flowery, and they just can't get past the ignorance of false machismo.

Actually I think you are so far off the mark here, you're off the page. With the wide diversity of styles of poetry, there are many people that read some form or forms of poetry and even write.


4. Some just don't like poetry.

True.

5. Some can't accept rhyming verse as poetry in today's world. Some think a poem has to be perfect in meter and style. I am not saying these people are homophobic, but they have the same ignorant characteristics, no matter how intelligent they may be.

Most of this is because of the grbage they have taught in schools to turn kids away from poetry. I mean so many styles of poetry will never be seen in a school except the "Perfect Metered and rhyming" poetry to the point that it bores the kids completely away from it.



6. Inclusitivity, Some poets think you need to live and breathe poetry. I can understand that passion, but I can't understand why they prefer poems that most common people can't understand. I look at some 'artsy' poems and just scratch my head because I haven't a clue what the poem means. Yes, the wording is clever and often has $100 words, but instead of leaving me spellbound, it leaves me confused. In past eras, poetry was written so the common person could understand the verse. You read Frost, ee cummings, Dylan Thomas, or sweet Emily D and you know what they are saying. In today's world, much of the poetry praised for excellence is totally outside the understanding of a common person. I would say the per centage of people reading poetry today is much less than in other eras simply because it is unintelligible to a common person.

Many people write from what they are used to talking, and as Pubic Schools are so ill-equiped to teach literature these people who were trained in them, don't understand.
I would say the worse place to learn about literature, is in a public school, this is why there are problems with things like this in writing.

Fred, I always put on my pantyhose before I write a poem.

Dan, Thank you for you views. I certainly agree with you about public schools. I also agree there is a wide diversity of styles of poetry. However, I believe I'm spot on with #4. I've lived in both the academic and blue collar communities and have raised two children. Unless people were lying, what I've heard from several people is the reason I posted #4. I'm not defending myself. I'm just reporting a real fact.

William you know I cant write poetry, and sometimes do have a hard time understanding it. But if I say I like it, I do. I find you quit talented and never have said anything different. In school I was forced to read and memorize to get a grade, if I liked it or not. Since I have been on this site, I was allowed to read what I wanted. You and the one other friend that we all know and love, has taught me that poetry can be enjoyed . True sometimes I have to read it several times to get the meaning. But my main objective in school was to learn business. To help my parents with their struggle.

I especially agree with #6. I read both poetry and prose for enjoyment. If it gives me a headache trying to understand it, I'll put it down and I probably won't return to it. True, I'm not overly intelligent, and a lot of what I don't get other people do or at least seem to, so I may not be a very good indicator of what most people understand.

No 6 is my pet peeve too. Most times people don't consider poetry "excellent" unless it contains words ya have to go to a dictionary to look up! I love simple little ditties, easy to understand and make me smile.

William - I won't disagree that all these things occur. To what degree, I can't say. I hesitate to speculate on other's motivations, but for me, perhaps I am the outlier. When I can't understand a poem's symbolism or metaphor, I enjoy struggling with it, to try and embrace the words, turning them over and looking at them from a different angle. Like finding an old $20 bill in your jacket, the rush of recognition or "getting it," (even if you are wrong and have only concocted a plausible explanation) is a great thrill. I also feel that it exercises my right brain; grey-matter training of which I am desperately in need.

Excellent article, William. I can't add anything coherent, so for a change I'll keep my mouth shut. :-)

I like to understand what i am reading. I also know the feeling of putting into words what others may not understand. But i am not a poet. I do like reading a poem that leaves me sitting with emotion to the point of tears as i sit with my mouth hanging open until i can gather myself to read it again. I have read some of yours that have had that affect on me.

Good poetry excites me these days.
My eyes widen and I feel my heart pounding harder.
Getting a daily dose of the Writer's Almanac
http://www.elabs7.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=260275&mlid=499&siteid=20130&uid=8a6fc448db
contributes to this blooming passion.
So what is good poetry?
For me it is an original turning of a phrase
an arousing alliteration
a recognition of my own experience
in another's words.
proper poetry is a synthesis
of human experience
in the shape of perfumed words
rendering pleasure
to the reader
I don't like every poem I read but I have found that the consistent attention I have given to poetry (both in reading others and writing my own) has proven to be an educationally expanding experience.

William, I agree with your whole article, and I think you already know that. I am of course one of those people who write what comes from their heart first, head second, and have fun with it sometimes, I will never be published, and a lot of very nice people here read my things and enjoy it and that makes me happy. I am so with you when you say a man can write poetry very well and I love all of your work, Fred's some of
others when they are not being so 'artsy'. I may not have to look up the words, but may have to figure out why they used that one in a poem, I am with you in that poems
should be written for the masses, they are mean to be remembered and recited, I still remember a lot of them from so long ago, because I loved them, and stored them away. This is an article that needed to be put out there. Thank you William,

I've loved poetry since I was a child, but I usually can't really say I love it unless it rhymes. And I REALLY love it if it rhymes well. I really, *really* love it when it rhymes well and still manages to say something. I read poetry for enjoyment, mostly, so unless it's a very accessible "modern" piece, I generally don't get much out of it.

That said, I've also always tried to write poetry. I am frankly baffled why people love a particular poem but might think mine was dumb or just so-so. I've come to the conclusion that sometimes the topic doesn't interest them, because when I take that same poem to a different audience, people have raved about it! LOL!

But still, while I consider myself a reasonably intelligent woman, I just don't "get it" with a lot of poems. Some poems I've read that I thought was really dumb, other people thought was great! So I'm thinking maybe poetry is a personal thing?

I think it's like prose that way Barbara. If it speaks to you it is good for you.

I agree with what you have said here. I am not a poet but enjoy reading a lot of the poetry here. Sometimes, I don't understand what the poet is getting at but by coming back and reading comments, it frequently becomes more clear to me.

A lot of people here can put simple life experiences into poetry that I can relate to and enjoy at the same time.

Poetry make us think; perhaps that's why some are intimidated by it.

William, we are in agreement on number four, I said "true" there. LOL I think you mised that some how.
I know before I started writing poetry, I had learned to hate it from public school. This was before I had ever heard of such writers as Byron, Keats, Chaucer, and many other vastly important writers.
One thing I learned about poetry is you have to have experience life before you can actually write poetry, because poetry is the art of life.

Interesting article - leaves me trying to work out why I read and write poetry. I think the answer is I like words. Sometimes I don't understand what I'm reading (or what I'm writing?), but if the words do the work, I'll read. If I have to do all the work, then I won't.

I read something about authors - that you can't sell good writing, but you have to have a good story to tell as well. So some very popular authors won't write as well, technically, but will have the best stories. I guess there's a balance that's needed, and maybe when "the masses" aren't part of the equation, the balance tilts too far into style instead of content. I'm wondering if that's what happens to poetry if we don't teach the kids to love words. Then I wonder, does it happen the other way with fiction, so that content has too great a power over style?

Not a thought out opinion... just passing thoughts passed on.

Dan, I meant point 3. My math skills are poor.

Thought provoking to say the least. I must agree with most if it to be sure.

I write poetry but I also like to read other peoples poetry. However some I don't understand. Hauki is one of the modes I don't usually get. I have read and seen a lot of excellent poetry on Gather and really enjoy reading it. I like free verse and rhyming verse as well. I also write other things beyond poetry. Poetry however has a beauty all its own and is relaxing to read. Some I don't understand and others I relate to well. Depends on my mood, time of day and even the poet or style. I have seen some very good male poets on Gather very expressive and heartfelt. But over all I agree most don't read or like to read it or like specific styles or types. Myself included.

William, I sometimes don't even know poetry from
prose, but I do enjoy reading them all. I might need
to go back and read them, but I get help from the
comments when I read those too. I don't like it if
I really can't think of what to say in a comment and
sometimes that will happen. Then I need to ponder
about what I read and finally come up with a pretty
good comment. Ok, I think I am rambling on here so
I will step off my soap box now!!
Just Me
Barbie

William, try going to Allpoetry.com, there are men from all over the world, and many from America that read and write poetry. You can go to any poetry site, professional or amiture and find a wide number of men reading and writing poetry, many even do both. I do think that you are just seeing a very small portion of the men that view poetry that way. Try chscking out some of the poetry sites and see what I mean. :)

I do not doubt there are men from every walk of life writing poetry. My #3 comment was just from things I've heard said by a lot of men and some women. How can I say this is not true?

I have read more poetry in the last 10 months than I have since I was in college. I think there are several quality writers here and I always enjoy reading their offerings. That includes you, William.

I have a friend who is a songwriter. I love his writing but his poetry doesn't rhyme. I may be old fashioned but I think that poetry written for song should rhyme. I still prefer rhyming poetry anyway but I have never been able to write it. Most of the "poetry" that I have written is free verse. I think that is one of the reasons that I don't really consider myself a true poet.

And still, there are those of us who read and write and love poetry, William, no matter what stigmas get attached to this art of shaping meaning in few words.
I enjoyed this article very much, and agreed with every point. I say poetry picks its readers, you either like a couple of lines of a poem or you put it down. But if it doesn´t make you feel as much as google for big words, then it´s not poetry.

John, I admire your last sentence. That says much of what I was trying to say.

Bill, I'm glad you wrote this, about # 3 and #4. This made me think of my husband, who absolutely refuses to read my poetry. He says "I'm sorry honey, I'm sure your poetry is good but I hate poetry." This always hurts my feelings, especially since I have written an entire collection and hope to publish it.
I am not a poet, I just sorta fell into poetry. I have written for years but only for my own amusement, I never shared my work with anyone. Then I went to college and took creative writing, part of the class was to write poetry. I aced the entire class with an A. I even won a couple of poetry contests on campus. But I write stories which I don't publish on gather because people want quick reads here. Not many want to invest time in stories. So, I am a non-poet stuck in a poetic world.

Dean, I have no argument with your well stated opinion. My article was about the general population. Although you give good reasoning, the probability is that the majority of people would not share in your reasoning. I'm criticizing you or defending myself. I'm just stating what I see as the obvious thought with most people.
I enjoy trying to figure out the meaning of some abstract poems, but do not view myself as in the majority or in any way superior to anyone. I equally enjoy my academic and blue collar friends. They all bring something interesting to the table and I respect the variety in points of view even when they are contrasting.

Thanks for the enlightment Will! :^)

Dean, I have the advantage of reading a few of your poems and found them excellent and highly enjoyable. I would whole heartedly recommend anyone to read your verse. Of course we should try to understand. How can we learn and progress without effort? Most on Gather are readers and I've always found readers to have good intelligence and good critical thinking skill.

Dean, It should read, 'I'm not criticizing you.'

Bill, I'm sorry for coming late to this.

With poetry, as life, I believe in live and let live. For my own part, I try to use simplicity of language ... though not necessarily, concepts.

William one reason I like reading your poems is that they flow in one constant direction, though they mayhave twists and turns they it all ends up where it is suppose to; giving the reader a meaning with feeling or pecticular reponse.

Some poems I have read leaves me truely more confused and feeling quite stupid; and this is kind of a parent not listening to a child but talking at them instead of to them. Some poets could use a lesson in listening, poetry does come from the heart.

Blessings

I love poetry. Therefore, most forum poetry disappoints me. When queried most online poets don't seem to have any influences, they've just decided to "write poems." THe resulting lack of any benchmarks leads to a lot of flailing and dull material.

I give a poem (or pretty much ANY article) a maximum of five lines of reading time for the writer to reach out and grab me. There is going to be a sense of mystery, truth, the majestic nearly inexpressible, humour, a resonant sorrow or something to get me to invest anymore time in their piece. If you haven't done it by line five, I have no faith you will do it by line fifty.

Sing song rhyme poems get even less time from me. There is sometimes some unintentional humour reading a piece about some serious heart rending topic rendered in Dr. Suess style rhyme.

A title like "A Poem about my beautiful new grandson" will not even get looked at by me. Ditto for "reflections on Grandma's Quilt" and the like. Not interested.

Esoteric themes like " The cancers of regret fulminate againt the salt wastes" make me snort in derision. I'm an "accesible"poem fan. Like Collins, Kooser, Kenyon, Carver. They go somewhere with a poem. It makes sense and tells the truth.

I expect a lot from poetry. I want there to be truth. I want there to be something I can discover about myself or something. I want to see flashes of another world that is close but nearly impossible to hold. I love poetry. I need poetry. I crave it. But 95% of what I find posted as poetry in online forums is drivel.

I do think poetry should be "criticized." When your poem leaves the security of its spiral bound note book for the bright lights of the public stage, it is fair game for critique. You want me to ride in this? Then I have every right to kick the tires, look under the hood, make inquiries, voice doubts, and see if I can pull any loose parts off. I expect the same of my readers should they find shoddy workmanship or obtuse expressions.

Different strokes for different folks, Bret.

Interesting article and comments, William. I agree with Magi.
# 4 is most of my family and friends.

Looking for your image posted writing poetry! :)