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About This Poem

 

Often on poetry sites

the poet will explain

what the poem is about

I always say

if you have to explain it

it is not a worthy poem

poems should be

readable, understandable

simple in their text

and their message

poems should not confuse

or make the reader give up

poems are meant to be read

and enjoyed by everyone

like a simple reader

in first grade

basic and direct

eliminate the cutesy stuff

and get on with

what you have to say

and that's all there is

about this poem.

 

◄ I Don't Get It

LEAKS ►

Comments

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Graham Sherwood

Wed 8th Apr 2020 13:12

I missed this earlier D.K

I agree with your sentiment about the need to explain ones work. However, I don't think it should always been understandable, or at least not immediately so.

Some poets write for themselves and not an audience but if an audience 'gets it' so much the better.

I do consider that much poetry is in the 'throwaway' mould which I think is a shame. Part of the art of writing (for me) is the consideration of a piece, before pen goes to paper.

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 7th Apr 2020 14:57

This reminds me of a book title recently discovered: "How To Understand Poetry And Why". Notwithstanding the assumption of
a certain level of competence in the use of language, I found the
title helped explain "how" and "why" there is an abundance of
over-our-heads stuff around these days - as if the writer had
acquired a thesaurus and encyclopaedias of metaphysical and fable
content with the intent to confuse and confound - exemplifying
the word "condescension".

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