Why is todays poetry so...PATHETIC?

Question

...and BORING?
...and SHALLOW?

...and UNIMAGINATIVE?

Answer 1

I always find white washing statements like this to be more harmful than useful. Aside from the whole "show me what you got" challenge, I would very much rather know what or who you have been reading that makes you come to this conclusion? And how much have you read? From there it is possible to have a meaningful dialog about today's poetry.

Do well.

Answer 2

Hey, good call, Todd. Although it might take a bit of effort to find some of the imaginative, thought-provoking, poetry being written, it is well worth the effort. Some of my favorite poets with, I imagine, work you could find at any online bookstore, include -- Charles Harper Webb --( he edited a book called Stand Up Poetry published by the University of Iowa Press) but also author of several collections of his own -- Charles Simic -- the New U.S. Poet Laureate and he rocks! -- Lawrence Raab had an amazing collection of detective/horror movie poems called The Collector of Cold Water.

There is poetry out there that will knock your sox off, just slow down. Spend some time at a bookstore in the poetry section, see what captures your imagination. Develop the sense that helps you recognize pathetic poetry as such and work on stretching your vision to include the possibility of something other than that.

Answer 3

I started forming a remark similar to Willow, Todd, et al. However, after some reflection, I think you have a point, to a certain extent.

First of all, most of the poetry we review/see in YA is written by very young poets. These fall into a few catagories, but basically they are either about loving someone, falling out of love with someone, being betrayed by someone, wanting someone back, wanting to get even with someone, hating someone, etc. Many others are filled with rage, rant and angst, none of which have any depth or imagination...and if they were judged on their content without thinking about who was writing them, they would be pretty pathetic. However, poetry, like any other art, takes time to develop, and it is difficult for someone with limited life experience to even fathom the depths of the human psyche or even understand zeitgeist beyond the latest pop star's affair or drug addiction.

The next group of writers, usually in their 20's to early 30's, often believe they have the entire thing figured out and become preachers of "this is the way it is". Not only are their shallow thoughts usually wrong, they often try to write their poetry in such obscure language that nobody even understands what they're trying to say unless they're part of the pretentious boheme group to which they belong...and it's ever been so.

The sad part is that these comprise the greatest number of "poets" out there...why? because many of them haven't settled into jobs that pay the bills, so they bounce around awhile until they see they're not making any money at it and finally go away...usually in their mid to late 30's at the latest.

Then you have the others...the poets who are over 40 and have either been at it for decades because they love it, or have only recently discovered how beautiful poetry can actually be. The new guys/gals will try to find ways to express their knowledge and experience, but may take years before they can do it in a way that has any real depth or originality.

We live in a world where a sex star or a singer can write a book of "poetry" that stinks to high heaven and still make millions, but someone who's studied poetry and writes beautiful verse remains almost undiscovered, and even if discovered, will only be read in the halls of academia.

Poetry was once a common art because there was no TV, Movies, cell phones, IPods, CDs, etc. It was how "art" was expressed in words and every house had some kind of poetry in it; on a wall, a book of collected works, etc. The heroes of the day were Whitman, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge, etc. Now poetry is a small shelf in Borders or Barnes and Noble. Books are cheap and thrown away after being read just once.

So, although I'd like to say your question was trivial or needless...I unfortunately have to agree that much of what we "see" is not what we really expect good poetry to be...and yet the real beauty of what we see is that there are more people trying to write poetry now than probably at any other time in history...and although it may not be very good, they at least show a desire to read and write poetry in a world full of IPods, Gameboys, TVs, etc. Give it time...these hacks may someday be our next great poets...let them be what they are, encourage them to get better...it's all we can do for now. The only part I don't like is when I see readers raving about how good a poem is when the poem is so bad it isn't even poetry. That, like those who applaud certain kinds of music, is beyond our control... all we can do is call them like we see them and hope our words carry some amount of weight in the truth they contain.

Answer 4

Poetry is a form of art and art often reflects the culture from which it came. The same can be said from literature and there aren't many good writers in the USA. Most of the good stuff comes from developing countries, I think, because life is more vital there. Here we're pretty jaded, blaze'. We're into power, popularity and money while not showing any emotion past an acceptable limit that's set somewhere between bored and stoic. Even our "artists" don't dare show emotion other than a little infantile rant once in a while.
However, I did hear a poem by a 13 year old girl who came from a tough neighborhood and not much of a family, read something that had everybody cheering her on. So it's out there, but not in the "official" artists underground grungy-bum self-absorbed escape from suburbia culture.

Answer 5

So many answers, so little time.

If you are talking about what you find here, at YAs poetry forum, I would have to agree the creme rises to the top quickly because there's not much competition.

But, out in the real world, where real poets take real chances, there is much to be enjoyed.

Whether you visit other poetry sites like alsopreview.com or criticalpoet.com or whether you go to retail bookstores and find good contemporary poets, there's lots out there to recommend.

What I'd like to suggest is that you tell us what you like and there are quite a few people who post on this site who can tell you where to find the style and quality of poetry that you'd like to read.

Sympathetically...
Margot

Answer 6

I can't say it better than Willow did. But let's step away from the blanket statements, it depends what you like about poetry that you aren't seeing in today's poetry. Care to elaborate? Happy to discuss, unless this was basically a rant.

Answer 7

Although I entirely agree, I have to say, it's even more annoying to me when people complain about it without posting any of their own work or trying to start a dialogue about how to improve "todays poetry" as you call it.
A question like this, so insubstantial and destructive, is as pointless as the poetry that annoys you so.

Answer 8

Although there is poetry that does reflect this, you will also find that there is that which does not.

Mayhaps you are reading limited material from a small pool, and may want to broaden your scope to the oceans depth.

Peace,
Sam

Answer 9

Thank you, it is boring, and unimaginative, it seems that society doesnt "have time" to slow down and think about whats sentimental or has actual meaning. im always told to keep my work "simple", then they come out like some 2 year old wrote them. its just the way people nowadays are. THE PUBLIC anyways.

Answer 10

Because Man is so questioning himself he forgets himself. So impressed with what the world forces on him and turning away from it he turns away from himself and then just wastes paper....that's a nice thought for tree hugger poet wanta-be's to think about. I have found writing poetry you first write from yourself, then from someone you care about, then from those you don't know. Seems most can't get over themselves. I'm working on the 3rd step and trying to incoroporate my art into it. Which probably means I've set myself back a step before I gained the next step, but at least I'm trying and hate my self for it and love it. I can only go far, die young in heart, and the world can be millionaires from my writing and art. For now, I'll be blessed and happy to create and I don't mind the future taking advantage of my contributions. It's up to them to deal with their own devils inside. I've been blessed.