What is wrong with Americaln attitudes to Modern Poetry. Nobody buys Modern Poetry? Why?? What is wrong?

Question

That there is poetry is the only
evidence that man truly exists

The Latin American poet quoted above was wise beyond his years. He had the luxury of participating in a culture that still prized the power of the written word as incantation. A machine can be programmed to make everything a man can make - airplanes, pictures, prose, music - but only one craft still requires exclusively the active participation of a human: poetry. Only a human can create and judge great poetry. Yet no poet currently living can make a living from his labor. This is because modern poetry has been written as prose and the public can not name a poet now living. The public does not buy poetry books. They do not expect to be pleased when they see a book of modern poetry in the shops. And they are right.

The poetry of the Greatest Living Poets Project sets out with a new direction. We never publish a poem unless it contains at least one line that will live forever in the language. greatestlivingpoets.com

Answer 1

(I am not sure where that racist thing came from, but I don't see it).

Today is a one-liner society. Poets that I know attempt to make curio items with simple poetry items displayed on them.

Did people really buy poetry in ancient years? Did they make money in other ways, or have "Sponsors"?

Did people of yesteryear read poetry much more before radio and television monopolized their time?

Can a great poet in today's age make money writing in other genre... short stories, television, radio

Certainly it is important to get the well written word and verse published in one form or another, so it gets read.

These are all difficult questions.

Answer 2

Just so you know, Father Bob Marley posts that same answer all over the Religion/Spirituality section. I think he's mad because all of hi pro-Islamic, anti-Jewish questions were being ignored by people. For some reason all he does is cut and paste. He never asks anything useful. I'm not big on the report abuse thing, but I'll make an exception in his case.

Anyway, to answer your question. It would be nice if we lived in a society where someone could be a poet, writer, painter, etc and not have to worry about starving to death. Unfortunately, in the capitalist world everything has a price tag put on it. Even your health.
Maybe some day people won't be so obsessed with worthless material objects.

Answer 3

I think that psyhaotic is right, first of all modern man doesn't have enough time to read...like he had before, our life is busy etc, so when you go to a library you look for the poets known to you, cause you want to see why are they considered so great. As he said maybe in 50 years they'll be considered classics and the modern then will die of hunger...Remember some of the great classic poets have been recognized after their deaths that often was in a deep state of poverty...so...

Answer 4

To actually answer the question asked:

I believe poetry is shelved because americans do not value the higher plane, as it were. Poets are the commentators of an age; the songwriters; the window into the past; the heartbeat of a culture.

I wonder if America is dead?

I'll check out the site.

Answer 5

Uh... What's with that first answer?

I think it's just that whole thing about time increasing value. Poetry, like visual art and music, usually doesn't hold dear to people unless it's a "classic". Maybe 50 years from now, people will begin to appreciate today's poetry.

Answer 6

Um, first poster, I think you owe the questioner an apology.
But in regard to the question, I like poetry, but only in song form.
Even though I do like some of Mary Oliver's poems.

The "first poster's response is gone. Thank God

Answer 7

My friend, I agree with you. Poetry books don't leave the shelf mainly because the intellectual capacity of humanity in understanding them has dramatically dwindled through this century.

Answer 8

Wow, the first guy who answered must have pushed a wrong button or something, or maybe he doesn't like poetry.

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by cheeseburgers...

Answer 9

extremely tough stuff. research into google or bing. it can assist!