Comments on: Can Poetry Matter?

By: Aaron Asphar

Aaron Asphar — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:58:34 +0000

I just couldn’t agree more with your point about academia. I’ve been writing about this too so I won’t repeat what I’ve said – its fist thing on my page, “my blog”.

http://asphara.wordpress.com/

I will delve into your blog more when I have the time.

Many thanks

Aaron

By: ravenswingpoetry

ravenswingpoetry — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:54:14 +0000

Gautami:

That, I think, is one of poetry’s advantages and perhaps a saving grace – the ability to evolve.

Nathan:

You do raise some interesting points. How in the heck *would* you perform e.e. cummings? How would you perform concrete poetry? How would you perform shape poetry? All of these at least partially require the visual look of the poetry on the page to carry forth their meanings.

Perhaps poetry is in another stage of evolution…?

I do think, though, that promoting poetry as a valid art form can be done with both performance and non-performance efforts.

Thanks, both, for giving your thoughts.

-NIcole

By: nathan1313

nathan1313 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:58:27 +0000

I’ve been reading Scot Woods’ column and he makes a lot of good points. But I’m not sure all poetry has to be performed. I think of ee cummings whose work has to be read on a page. I think all of it should be “poetry you can actually read” (David Lerner). Poetry will never die. We can argue about form and use but it will never die just like music will never die.

By: gautami tripathy

gautami tripathy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:14:24 +0000

Very well said. Poetry is here to stay. In one form or other. It keeps evolving. That is the beauty of it! Entertain me, will you?

By: ravenswingpoetry

ravenswingpoetry — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:16:35 +0000

Thanks, everyone, for dropping by and commenting.

Sweet Talking Guy: You also raise some interesting points, especially your statement: “what works for one audience may be completely wrong for a different crowd.” This prompts the question from me – is there a such thing as general audience? And is it even possible to write poetry that appeals to a general audience? What qualities would this kind of work need to have to be universal in any sense of the word? Or is universality even the or an answer to making poetry popular again?

And on getting one’s work published and marketed: yes, that is the end goal of getting your work published and marketed – to have people read it. But what I’m wondering is: is much poetry being published outside of academia in 2008? I’m not saying that such works do not exist – look at anthologies such as “The Spoken Word Revolution” and “Bum Rush the Page”. Also, individual poets of course are publishing works outside of academia.

All of us poets, whether here in the blogosphere or not, are surrounded by non-poets on a daily basis. I think so much has been written on the apparent decline of poetry, but I think it is wise to steer clear of assumptions. Maybe each one of us ought to start asking questions of those non-poets around us as to why they don’t read – trying for some honest answers, of course, but taking care not to pin blame on them (we don’t want to come at this with a hostile “Why ain’t you reading poetry?” kind of vibe, but with a non-threatening and genuinely inquisitive tone). And perhaps follow up with this question: “what would make you want to enjoy poetry again”? I know Ms. Paradowski in her article has offered some reasons as given by the average reader, but I want to explore this further.

Scot: I’m curious to know your point of view. I don’t mind if you soapboax here – or if anybody does, for that matter.

Others: please, feel free to join in!

-Nicole

By: Scot

Scot — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:03:30 +0000

don’t get me started–………………………

By: Sweet Talking Guy..

Sweet Talking Guy.. — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:17:19 +0000

I think all the points you raise are relevant but my opinion is that there is too much being written about writing poetry. Poetry happens at many different levels and what works for one audiance may be completely wrong for a different crowd. Poetry will always be popular because so many people write it. As far as readership goes there’s no real difference between poetry or any other kind of writing – to get people to read your work it needs to be published and then marketed.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:53:17 +0000

Yes Raven, there is a Poetry Clause. By right and tradition Poetry Clause belongs to the people, not academia. For bloggers have reclaimed and rescued Poetry Clause from the clutches of those that say Poetry Clause does not exist. But they are wrong, for throughout the world, poetry is written, spoken, read and sung by millions of people who know that Poetry Clause is real. So Raven do not despair, but rejoice in the notion that you too can be visited by Poetry Clause not just one night a year, but every moment you live.