Hello friends and poets,
Today is the last of our pubtalk in a while. It has been fun to participate in the lively discussions, but I have been running dry on subjects. In four weeks time this feature will be replaced with something else (that I refuse to disclose yet).
My thought about the pubtalk have been to challenge us a bit about why we write and maybe how poetry can become relevant to more people.
You have probably heard it viewpoints like this:
- Poetry is too difficult to read and understand, I hated it in school.
- Poetry is not relevant to me, it’s all about the poet.
- Poetry should rhyme/not rhyme, have meter or be free.
To some extent I agree with all the viewpoints. Reading it requires an effort, I need to understand not only myself but the poet, and sometimes I cannot find the musicality in the poem.
Today I just want to hear you think that poetry should be made as relevant as it once was. Where is our scene? Our readers?
(except here at dVerse)
Who should be our readers except poets?
I have tried to come up with a few ideas previously around this.
Should we be more controversial and provoke?
Should we tell stories or focus more on the style/form?
Should we include humor or politics?
Should we be intimate and personal?
Should we write more about the news?
Should we give answers or ask the questions?
Or is it simply passion we are lacking?
dVerse 
Hello all.. with this entry I wrap up the pubtalk series… tell me what you think… I want poetry to become important for more people than poets.
Hi Bjorn and All. Today it’s been partly sunny, partly warm, good weather for working in the yard, which I’ve been doing. The snapped limb is still attached to the tree, but everything that was attached to it has been cut up and hauled to the back brushpile. Quite a job that was made lighter with the help of a neighbor and my son. About the pub talk today, I look at poetry as any other art form, so all of your questions can be asked of any art form. The more diverse poetry can be the wider the audience it will gather. That’s not to say that art forms don’t sometimes go into the extreme end of the continuum, but who is it for anyone to say what the limits are. Above all else, art is there to move something within the creator and the audience. If it has no pulse to move, then let is serve as compost on the path to something that will. p.s. I appreciate the pub talks, Bjorn, yet I am intrigued and excited about what will be taking its place!
I fear sometimes that all art require time to consume… and just as you say poetry is like any art. Maybe we just have to accept that for the time being art is on decline (except for the type you can invest in).
Is Art on the decline, or has the internet flooded our senses with every kind of artistic endeavor; overkill, clear and simple. But who can enjoy opera without studying it? Poetry could never compete with the other literary genres; not in interest, popularity or income
I go to the concert house here in Stockholm quite often… and when I look around I’m one of the youngest in audience… despite the fact that they play newly written music, it’s not expensive either… maybe it’s more about the time it consumes to dive into art… and with all the alternatives we have less time time can be consumed on art.
How nice to see your comment dude! Thought the mothership had beamed you up…?
i was commenting to Glenn…
I agree, Jade, that poetry is the same as any other art form, and that the more diverse it is the wider the audience. Most of all, I agree that art is there to move something within the creator and the audience. Even when I don’t agree with the sentiment or opinion in a poem, there can still be something in it that moves or surprises me.
I’m glad you are of like mind, especially about the interactivity of poetry. When I think of a song, I imagine the singer is enjoying the physicality of the act but is also putting their voice out there for an audience to connect with. Not that they are writing for the audience, more like validation that their message has been heard by someone it resonates with. That’s why I write poetry — to use my voice and have another hear who I am.
Yes!
I think poetry is universal like music.. it should be read by all who it speaks too. And about everything from the micro to the macro from the most intimate relationship to the horrors of wars- All that it should be is emotion spilled on paper …bkm
That is what I love with poetry as well… I have just started to wonder if it’s truly universal, or if poetry is for a small elite who have the time to spend reading… 🙂
While what you say is true, it is created for those who want it. It is about communication, and if you only speak to one person, and that person understands, that is good, too.
Hear, hear!
Playing devil’s advocate; why do you think poetry is less relevant now than say fifty years ago? I’d argue that it’s just the opposite. Poetry has always been considered more intellectual than fiction, more difficult to understand, and poets have been quite happy with that elitism and being considered the purveyors of true literature. Ordinary people didn’t read poetry. They didn’t read much at all. It’s only recently with social media that anyone and everyone can be a poet, and the networks are awash in it. It’s called democratisation, and the millions of young people who follow the new poets who write the kind of stuff you used to find in Christmas crackers would say that it is important to them.
I will not argue with you on that. I think it’s more about how I’m met myself when I say that I write poetry. But I have to say that I think that printed poetry was read a lot more 50 years ago (at least in Sweden).
Poets were read and having a book of poetry to carry along was not considered weird. Social Media and blogging have regenerated the interest in writing poetry… but I do see less of reading actually.
But we see less reading of physical books anyway. Young people read on their phones. I can’t speak for Sweden, but In my generation nobody but nobody bought books of poetry and only ever read it in school. I’m not saying that it’s a change for the better, but it’s a change that’s affected the written word in general.
I remember that we at least tried to read a bit of poetry when I was young… and I wonder how many actually reads on their phones… maybe we should look more at the spoken poetry with people listening.
This is where it is, like it or not
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/07/now-its-the-coolest-thing-rise-of-rupi-kaur-helps-boost-poetry-sales
I have only read about this book… but never read it..
I was given it, by two of my young adults. They lapped it up. The poems are short, lines are short, vocabulary is limited, subject matter is limited, what you see is what you get. Whether it’s good poetry is debatable (I’m being generous) but it sells like the Beano used to.
I think it’s a good thing really…. and maybe a few of its readers will go on and find even better poetry…
Maybe. As long as it’s short, easy and about relationships.
As far as I can tell, most of us already write poems that are political, about news, personal, humorous, provocative and often sensual. I think the diversity among our dVerse group strides the full spectrum of poetic possibilities. As to our readership, most poetry lovers are poets themselves, at least at heart. The internet gives us a forum and platform denied to us in the past. A poet I know often says, “It’s a good time to be a poet, but the pay is still shitty.” A paper route is probably more lucrative.
When I was the President of a local Film Club for 7 years, we always worried about recruiting more members, expanding our visibility, and changing the group to appeal to younger film buffs. But alas, nothing ever really changed. Members came and went, but the size of the group remained much the same.
It’s much the same with poets and poetry. Poets join a group at a site, establish credibility, enjoy fellowship–then either stick around or flit off to some other group. It’s a bit of a closed system. Some groups publish, or help to publish, books of their own poetry. As some members drift away, I miss them, while welcoming their replacements. Their reasons for leaving are as complex as those cited by those of us who stay.
I agree that we try to keep the diversity up… and I am love the wit and beauty in some of the poems that are published here… but talking for myself, I do not read a lot of printed poetry, and I wonder if there is any money there either.
When I go into a bookstore, there are almost no poetry book (almost no books at all today)… and I wonder what the future will hold.
At the same time the hip-hop scene seems to be well and alive.
I think we have a lot more readers than just the poets who participate, as most of us share our posts, and sometimes those of other poets, on Facebook and Twitter, where they are read by a wider audience. I was stunned when I realised this.
I know… every now and then I realize this as well… as a matter of fact I had read a lot of dVerse poets on twitter before even starting a blog… 🙂
Good evening Björn and fellow poets!
Everything runs its course and I’m sure this won’t be the end of Pub Talk; maybe later in the year it could be revived again. I’m curious about its replacement, especially as you refuse to disclose it Björn!
I really enjoyed the video clip and personally get a kick out of performance poetry: for example, I love Kate Tempest, John Cooper Clark and Benjamin Zephaniah. I think this kind of poetry gets a wide audience. I also think that poetry is more popular in some parts of the world than others. We have a vibrant creative writing community in Norwich and a poetry circuit which seems to be popular with the public as well as poets. There are so many poets on-line these days too, and the general public seems to be reading their words.
The reason some people hate poetry because of school is due to the way most teachers present poetry in the classroom. I don’t remember having a problem with poetry at school, nor did I have a problem with it in the classroom when I was teaching. I even had a regular poetry workshop that was well attended and one of my students got into the final of Poetry by Heart.
I worry that people think that poetry is not relevant to them and that it ‘s all about the poet. I believe that poets write about their personal experiences in a way that reaches out to others,
I think you’re right about the rhyme/not rhyme/meter/free discussion, which is all about personal preference and, again, goes back to what happened in the classroom. Occasionally I come across poems that I really can’t get on with, and others into which I have to put so much effort I wonder whether it’s worth it.
I think that controversy and provocation are OK in small doses, but I can’t imagine people wanting to read those kinds of poems all the time. The same thing goes for overdosing on sugary romantic poems – we can have too much of a good thing. Yes, telling stories is wonderful, but sometimes the form adds more to the story than the words. It’s a matter of balance.
I’m not really happy writing humorous or political poems, although sometimes they just turn out that way or a topic lends itself to that sort of thing. However, I get a lot out of intimate and personal poetry.
Finally, I believe we should always be asking questions!
Thank you so much… and maybe my view on the poetry scene is tainted with how I feel it’s like in Sweden… very very few poets in ivory towers. I would love to have a lively scene to live in…
What I feel is that variety is what we need so we should keep up the job on that.
I saw a performance by Benjamin Zephaniah in Chengdu about eight or nine years ago. I remember challenging his idea that poetry is always political. Spoken word artists do seem to be more political and especially more charismatic than your typical on-print poet. I’ve thought a lot about our little exchange over the years and sometimes have admitted that perhaps he is right. Even the most Zen haiku can have a political undertone, but I think that is the reader’s job or responsibility. I’m still of the romantic school, I suppose, in which I believe in a whole higher way than political persuasion and that we can access it, though it is so difficult to do in this world of diametrically opposed poles.
In a way, most things we create are in some way political.
Like stamp collectors and cinema buffs, poets are part of an elite group; but so what? Those of us who cluster together reap the benefits, feeding our soul, satiating our need to write, providing an audience even as we participate.
Ha.. yes indeed… though I wonder if there are any stamp collectors left.
Relevant. An important topic. My wife and I had a discussion about poetry and it boiled down to a comment she made about Rumi. “I don’t understand any of it”. For me, as a reader, poetry is best when I don’t understand it. But it’s not just that, it can’t be too far beyond my understanding either, or I am lost. Maybe 4% is about right. There needs to be an inherent truth in it. Something that lies just beyond the words. So it’s like there’s a sweet spot between familiarity and newness, between known and unknown, and that is going to vary per reader. So the best poems operate on more than one level. As a writer? Well I’m not feeling to pumped about my skills right now. I write either what is in me, or what comes through me. I don’t rework too much. Some things I’ve written I don’t even recognize. I certainly don’t consider my audience, or craft in order to reach a certain demographic. If words can do anything may they challenge me enough to think in new ways.
>
What you say about newness is important to me… goes back to some of the theory of defamiliarization in writing I think… to present something familiar in a new and original way is what makes writing into an art. Of course this means that it’s harder to understand..
“Art is thinking in images.” Poetry is a special way of thinking; it is, precisely, a way of
thinking in images, a way which permits what is generally called “economy of mental
effort,” a way which makes for “a sensation of the relative ease of the process.”
“Without imagery there is no art”—”Art is thinking in images.”
‘Art as Technique’ (1917) Viktor Shklovsky
I was a poet, or at least wrote poetry before I was an actor, teacher or. photographer. Friends and family were my only readers. My association with dVerse expands my audience to a satisfactory place. For a few years, I was active in open mic events. That was sweet, but only given 10 minutes to perform begin to bother me.
Are any of you familiar with the practice of Lectio Divina? Popular among Catholic ascetics, though certainly not limited to them, it is a way of “holy reading” which illuminates the state of one’s own spirit and the ‘medicine’ it needs at just that moment of meeting the words on the page. Then what happens is a whole world unfolds, invisible to the eye, but it occurs right there as if the words are floating off the page forming a vision or doing some healing. This is what reading poetry does for me; it is a way of prayer and a way of nourishment. Today, many are too fast-paced to read (or read between the lines) this way, because it does require a certain concentration, like taichi.
That sounds amazing. I’m not sure how you would even start.
I think scripture and poetry are often derived from the same source. Reading it line by line, in a near meditative state, can be revelatory, life-changing. And to answer tonight’s topic, absolutely relevant.
I haven’t heard of Lectio Divina, but it reminds me of Michael Polanyi’s tacit (or personal) knowledge. The explicit knowledge expressed in the words on the page are understood only tacitly, personally, in ways we cannot express explicitly. That sounds like what a religious ascetic would be doing (or any of us for that matter) would be doing when we read.
Sounds just like it and you’re right. Reading should be this deep action that has the alchemical power to change and grow us. It should even hurt (sometimes.) It is frustrating in this texting culture and in-your-face news to read writing that clearly was not meant to cultivate virtue but to ignite quickly.
On another note, Frank, while I was writing my prompt for tomorrow I was trying to find the source of, “The more I know, the less I actually know.” Was it Socrates, Aristotle, Einstein, the Dalai Lama? Anyway, somewhere on the web I read a thread of commenters wondering too the exact source and I get to the last one and I thought, well serve me up some hemlock I know that guy! Unless it was another Frank Hubeny, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it was you indeed.
Yes, I remember that thread in Philosophy Stack Exchange. I do post there often. I am glad you noticed it!
Here are some thoughts from a decidedly senior member of the group! My mother was born in 1909. She had only an 8th grade education, yet she could recite long story poems verbatim, as part of her schoolwork had been to memorize them. It was a time when poems told a story and stayed long in the memory. I was schooled in rhyming poetry and it is still difficult for me to write free verse, but I’ve come to admire and enjoy it a great deal. Here’s where I look askance at some modern poetry: It seems long and convoluted instructions for intricate poetic forms require the poet to concentrate on format, frequently resulting in a gathering of words that wander off into who knows where and end in say what? They certainly lose my interest, enthusiasm and inspiration. It seems most of us can ice skate, but not so many a triple salchow. We are a diverse group from many backgrounds, so it only follows our tastes will vary. I have respect and admiration for the energy you and others put into this group, and I believe we all benefit from the camaraderie. Can’t wait to see the next pub talk!
I know learning verse is old fashioned, but I think there is a richness to having those words stored in your brain. Of course, rhyming, rhythmed verse is much easier to remember. I like free verse, but there is something wonderful about a structured form.
Well said, Beverly!
A few things to say here:
First, there’s a thriving rap scene, and rap is poetry. You may not always like the topics or the choice of words, but there’s some powerful stuff out there. There’s a fairly triving performance poetry scene in the UK, too, so maybe people are consuming poetry in a different way. Having said that, it’s been true for a long time that more people in the UK write poetry than read it. I don’t know what can be done about that. And a lot of that poetry I wouldn’t care to have to read too much of…
We have a new Poet Laureate in the UK, Simon Armitage. He’s about as famous as a poet can get, I think. He’s been on the telly, he’s on the school syllabus, he’s written some non-poetry books, he’s been involved in some very moving presentations of war poetry. He’s relatively young to be on the school syllabus.
and this is the one both my kids have done at school for their GCSEs:
https://genius.com/Simon-armitage-remains-annotated
I think it’s really powerful. He’s great at using straightforward, vernacular language, but packing a real punch with it. You’ll be pleased to hear that when the Laureate position was announced, my boy started reciting this. I think there’s something really special about hearing poetry read out loud.
I’m not sure about going out of one’s way to be relevant. My heart always sinks a little at poetry readings when someone says they wrote this poem in response to something they heard on the news. I think the important thing is to write authentically, to write something that’s true at a fundamental level.
I have wondered whether we should try and create a dVerse podcast, but I don’t know where to start. Hearing poetry read is such an intense experience, a different level of intimacy with the words.
For myself, I think I tend to write about small, close things, but there is a whole universe in there. I really enjoy seeing how other people read my work – often they find things I didn’t plan, or didn’t realise was in there. The reader is the co-creator. I also enjoy seeing how other people respond to a prompt or use a form, and that helps me reflect on my own work.
This comment ended up a bit longer than I expected!
So much I agree with here, Sarah, especially in the criticism of so much seemingly relevant poetry only being reactionary and half-ranting. Yes, the truth poems come from a still place and should touch that place in each one of us that is badly neglected in a so not still whirl-windy world.
I know practically nothing about British accents. It sounds like Simon Armitage almost had a Scottish lilt but I could be way off. What’s your professional opinion? Lol
He’s a Yorkshire lad – my part of the world, actually – might be another reason he resonates with me…
My hubby finds it difficult to read and understand poetry. For him, stories and prose are easier to digest. I think it goes back to our classes when poems before was so structured in classical forms and the themes didn’t appeal to the younger readers. Now, poetry is made accessbile with social media like Instagram, and we see new and upcoming writers and poets bravely writing poems, free form and even rediscovering form poetry. For me poetry is personal and developing as I read more poets and appreciate other styles as well.
Thank you for hosting our pub talks Bjorn. Looking forward to another exciting chapter to dVerse.
I always read my own poems aloud before they are “finished”. Poetry is a verbal form for me, not really a visual one. But that’s my personal preference only.
Reading out loud makes the sound stand out during revising even for prose. If the sound isn’t right it can confuse the reader and perhaps encourage the reader to stop reading.
Sorry about my lateness. I was at the dreaded dealership getting my car serviced. But while I was there I was able to bring up this post to think on it. I agree that poetry is an art form, and just like art in the Renaissance period, poetry back then told stories. I recently watched a documentary entitled The Price of Everything. It was a fascinating glimpse into the contemporary art world. And while I appreciate many types of art, for the life of me, I can’t figure out the ‘story’ behind the piece. That’s how I feel sometimes when I read contemporary poetry- where was the poet’s head when they wrote this? what are they trying to say? I know our words are subject to personal perspective and 10 readers can get different interpretations. I think as writers, we must first write for ourself; with our authentic voice. And if others ‘get it’, we have accomplished something. There is any short answer to making our works more relevant; but I believe poets are very special people who are born thinking and seeing the world differently.
I think there are several layers to understand any text… there can be a factual layer, a narrative layer and an emotional layer… but in poetry you often remove some of these layers and go right to the core…
Yes, that’s true.
I find family and friends on Facebook soon tire of postings on a regular basis. If I get 4 to 8 likes I am doing well and if I am lucky I might get a comment or two. On the other hand, her on Word Press, people are looking for specific interests, so they often like and comment on my posts. It is very rewarding to share with people like all of you who enjoy reading new poetry. I have found my photos have been a big draw as well. I post one almost every day along with my poems. I try to stay positive with an occasional post about politics or religion. Drawing in new readers is very difficult no matter what kind of poetry we write. I keep posting on Facebook and find that it catches some new folks from time to time.
And maybe there are those that just passes and reads… I cross-post all my poems to twitter, and sometimes I draw readers from there.
Think more may read that put likes or comments!
My apologies for being late. I haven’t even been on around for awhile (multitasking!). I love the questions you’re exploring, Björn. I used to find reading poetry very difficult but my life changed drastically, and lo-and -behold- here I am! I feel that poetry should be freely expressed; whether controversial or not.
The one thing I notice is that if a collection of poems addresses a certain issue of topic- or theme, readers know what to expect.
Just like you, my love for poetry came late… for me it was not a drastic change but more something like aging (maybe it was my midlife crisis)… and I feel like you that emotions shall be bared in poems.
I don’t feel poetry is a dying art, I think it is evolving. I personally tend to write about topics that are dear to my heart. It’s a way to convey my thoughts. Am I a poet? I don’t really know as poetry is subjective just like any other art form. I tend to think it is universal like music as many poems have a lyrical feel to them. I often take poetry books out of the library and they have many shelves filled with inspiration. Also, I feel that open mic is growing and bringing forth new poets and styles. It’s a great way
to get instant feedback. I haven’t done this in a while but, I did enjoy it when I participated. Often people bring their books to these events to sell or share links to websites . I have loved poetry since the 10th grade when I was introduced to poetry on a wider scale. It has helped me through some difficult times in my life. It has been a creative blessing in so many ways. To me poetry is the voice of the soul.
Perhaps, we should strive to find a way to help in the poetry evolution. How would we do that I do not know? I often buy poetry books as gifts and they have always been received with a heart of gratitude.
Musicians are often poets at heart and I say let their lyrical songs be heard.
I love this: “To me poetry is the voice of the soul.” I also believe what you say about musicians as poets. Sometimes they have to adjust the lyrics to fit music, but it is poetry no question. I bought several poetry books by Chinese poets when I was studying daoism but not a lot of other types. Someone here mentioned carrying books of poetry around and another said no way was that part of the culture. For those who haven’t seen the movie, “Paterson,” I would highly recommend it for seeing a real live poet living in a real live world and carrying his book to write the poetry he found in the world. It’s a Jim Jarmusch film starring Adam Driver.
I write poetry at this point in my life, st 72, for four reasons. First, to feel my soul vibrating through my mind, producing images that I capture with words, so that I can read them back to myself over and over, until I finally feel fully and deeply, and better grasp what was bubbling up originally from my soul, and fall centered in my mind as emotion of some sort envelopes me. In other words, to entertain myself. Secondly, I write at times simply to anchor my sanity, when something has wholly overwhelmed me . Thirdly, I write because I simply must, I don’t know how not to write. My mind overflows with constant thoughts that spill over, and if I don’t release them linearly through writing they begin to whirl round and round in my mind. In other words, to hea myself think. Finally, I write as a defense against dementia. I create mixed media art for variations of the same reasons. I really don’t give a damn if there is an audience for poetry. The years when I cared if there was an audience for my poetry, I wrote it as lyrics for songs for my band, and performed it onstage with a soundtrack. After reading this, if you wonder if I’m mad… yes, as a fucking hatter!
Rob, I love your response! It is a very healing way to dispel emotional disturbance I know that. It’s a healthy way to process whatever is going on. I know you don’t care if you have an audience, but for me to have a “witness” is to feel validation. Validation, not necessarily agreement, but a part of who I am that needs to be “seen.” As a very private person, it can feel isolating at times to be trapped in my head. About the writing, yes, we are the same in that regard.
Poetry is a creative act but, in the best poetry, some rules apply. While creativity is always to be encouraged and we are seeing more and more poetry in this age, the fact remains that much of it would never be called poetry in times past, and can amount to no more than thoughts written down, without rhyme, metre or rules.
I am not sure poetry can be quantified. It can only be expressed and the pearls will tumble around with the rest.
That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it. I have my doubts about the pearls though. What usually rises to the top is the light-weight stuff that is easy to be picked up, tasted and thrown away.
thought-provoking post, Bjorn. I suppose we imagine ourselves swirling colors into still ponds and wanting to watch the circles widen – only to see them overlapped by a stone tossed from there, or the wake from a boat launched from yonder overwhelming our little ripples. I’m reminded of two quotes: a Talking Heads lyric: “Same as it ever was” (from Remain in Light, Once in a Lifetime)…. and Vonnegut: “So it goes” (from Slaughterhouse Five). ~
I think it might be futile though… the waves in the water usually passed — undisturbed… after some initial turbulence… maybe it’s the same in the poetry pond.
My view is that poetry must come from the heart, you can manufacture it, but it connects better when it connects with yourself in the first place. I have read quite a number of overt protest poems, but an even greater number of covert ones so styles also vary.
Yes, there can be a constructed framework of form but with a heart inside.
Yes, nicely put. If there’s no heart, what is a poem?
I loved reading all the comments. I made a reply above to an idea about poetry, while it is important to share our work, it is about communication, and who is to say, what that should be? If one person gets what we are saying, that is good. It is the same with the visual arts. I am not looking for a who auditorium of people to understand or love, what I have to say, maybe if one gets it, it is enough.
Exactly, Annell!
A reader is also an artist, but there’s no way of igniting all passions. It’s hard to be personal when there’s so much to understand, but the open environment of this site sparks interests. With time, the beauty of art will flourish and all participants help it grow. Comments encourage us to know that there are others like us, even if we don’t know how to respond. All is relevant when it’s meant to be.
The open mind is both the hardest and the easiest thing with poetry…. you have to bare your emotions both as writer and reader.
As a recent comer I’ve been reticent to join in these pub talks, I don’t go to the pub normally 🙂
But I have totally enjoyed the diverse responses here and to the prompts, we cover a broad range. Bjorn thanks for hosting this and I totally loved the performance poet you included. That type of poetry really inspires me, have yet to make an open mic night.
Rob’s response resonates as I write because I must, its my preferred form of expression along with my photos. Finding like minded poets here and on WP is nourishment!
So thanks dVerse and Bjorn and I look forward to whatever comes next and I believe these pub talks will take off again when the time is right …
I’m new here – but not to poetry. I’ve been reading and writing it since high school. I’ll be 53 next month.
How do we make it more relevant? Keep doing what we’re doing. There is so much poetry on blogs nowadays – and other social media. Again, referencing Rupi Kaur – popular – okay in and of itself. Is it good poetry? Not my cup of tea. But if it gets more people reading poems, that’s a good thing. When I was visiting friends in Portland, Oregon, I went to Powell’s bookstore and they were highlighting books published by Instagram poets. That seemed relevant to me.
There is always going to be the question of quality. Is it really poetry? Is it doggerel? There is a snootiness to it; poetry seems all fancy, better than other types of writing. But I’m not sure that’s right. That makes it less relevant – only relevant to a certain few.
I’m almost always automatically opposed to anything that’s too popular, so the question for me becomes about balancing popularity – getting the message out there to as many people as possible – without losing the quality. Good writing is good writing, regardless of the type.
Then it’s a matter of genres. In fiction, genres are codified in bookstores. Poetry is treated like a genre of its own, yet there is so much variety in good poetry. There are poems that only work on the printed page, and others that only really work when read aloud. There are love poems, of course, and break-up poems. There are political poems, both overt and covert. There are serious poems and humorous poems. If we’re going to make poetry more relevant, we have to figure out how to help people find the kinds of poetry that they are going to like – to read – and then maybe to write.
Good stuff is going on in classrooms. I worked at a public elementary school in San Francisco, and got to have California Poets in the Schools (CPITS) come into my classroom. That’s where a published poet comes in and teaches poetry writing classes to the students. It’s a wonderful experience. My blog is named after a line one of my students wrote during one of those lessons.
One of the things I highlight in my classroom today is novels in verse. One of my favorite authors is Kwame Alexander. Some students don’t care for his work; they find reading poetry difficult, but many like his books as much as I do. I’ve yet to have a student start one of his books, but then put it aside. It’s okay to not finish a book if you really don’t like it. Purely anecdotal, but it’s true.
Closing thought: let’s get young people interested in poetry. And let’s encourage older people (like me) that it’s okay to read and write poetry if you want to.