What is your opinion?

Question

What do you think about poetry in general? Has it enriched your life? Who is your favorite poet and why? I'm also interested in what you think about the poetry posted on Y/A. How do you think it compares to the poets you have read?

To E: Love is always acceptable, no matter what kind it is. If you click on Arts & Humanities/Poetry, you'll be amazed. But it won't give you much of a clue.

Answer 1

Hello Elaine,

I love poetry. I enjoy the precision of the language, and it's compact ability to generate surprise and emotional response.

It has enriched my life a great deal not just from being moved by great poems, but by providing me with a creative outlet. It has also been rewarding to watch my writing grow from abstract cliche to something I can be more proud of.

I have a few favorite poets. I gravitated to poets that had similar styles to me initially. Later I started to appreciate poets for what they could make language do. Currently I bounce between TS Eliot, Louise Gluck, Sharon Olds, Pablo Neruda. I will give the current nod to Neruda...his work is so beautiful. He has such a clean style that comes across even in translation. He never fails to move me and shock me with what he can do with words. He's a genius.

I like the poetry on YA mainly because you can see writers at various levels of experience. Some are starting out and watching them develop their style and unique voice is gratifying. There are also some excellent writers on this site that I enjoy both for reading their work, and also for learning how they manage language. I don't want to slight anyone by forgetting them...so let me just say there are about 8 writers on this site that I look forward to reading--whether I choose to comment or not.

How do they compare? Well, we all have a long way to go to live up to the true greats, but I still think there are some excellent poems being produced (of course theres dross too not denying it, but it's worth sifting through). I can think of one poem specifically that engaged me intellectually and two poeems that moved me deeply, as well as, hundreds of original images and lines. So, even if they are not up to the level of world class reads--there is still some good poetry being produced, you just have to look for it.

Thanks for the question. It's nice to reflect every once in awhile.

Answer 2

Hi Elaine,

Poetry, and I mean the good stuff, is great for the mind. It keeps you thinking, and wondering and opens you to different perceptions and ideas. I think most of the people posting on Y!A are still learning and have a ways to go, and likely when they get to where they are considerable, they will stop posting here and move on to magazines.

There are so many good poets working these days, and I find more of them every day.

You might look up some of the following:
Jack Gilbert
Sarah Hannah
Louise Gluck
Natasha Saje
Nance Van Winckel
Bob Hicok
Mark Turpin
Paul Guest
Mary Jo Bang
Tracy K. Smith
C. J. Sage
Stephen Dunn
Jennifer Michael Hecht

and I've found so many more by just dropping in at Verse Daily to start my morning.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

I enjoy reading poetry and it has enriched my life.
I have more then one favorite poet, a few of them are Robert Frost, Henry Vaughan and Ted Hughes.
I haven't read much of the poetry that has been posted on here.

Answer 4

I can't say that poetry has done much for me. I think that it's a great form of self-expression, however. Many of my friends write poems and post them on MySpace or other similar websites. When I read them, I usually don't fully understand them, but I'm always left with a certain feeling. I mean, I can't understand the specific words and mechanics, but I understand the underlying tone. =-)
I haven't seen much poetry on Y!A. I'll check that out, though.
(Desparate search for clues?)

Answer 5

I suppose humans can think loose to have the opinion that they desire. They must be equipped to precise there opinion, and people who pay attention (which must be plenty of humans) must have an open brain, and probably difference there opinion. Some evaluations won't transform some thing, but it surely doesnt imply there nugatory. Even if no one treasures your opinion, you must. Its what makes you who you're.

Answer 6

yes i do think so.
Poe.
haven't seen or read it.

Answer 7

it really has done nothing for me.