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I understand where your comin from James….but as has already been said, if ppl didn’t want or couldn’t take criticism then they wouldn’t/shouldn’t post in the first place….I must admit tho, I’m a bit of a softy and rather than hurt someone feelings if I don’t quite understand a poem or don’t know how to comment on it then I tend to just leave it….it’s a cop out I know but that’s just me :oops: And also, it’s very difficult to criticise someone’s work, as it’s seen thru their eyes, and their interpretations……anyway, I’m lovin the stuff I’m seeing on here recently :D
The Poetic CritiqueI’m not a notable poet.
I’ve no wisdom to pass on
through my mere words.
I just find the act itself
to be a comforting event.I feel that writing poetry,
whatever style that my be
is simply an expression
that could not withstand
the confinements of our minds.For whatever reason, these
thoughts appear and manifest
themselves into an art-like form.
Since each person is different
and their poetry, simply extensions
of their own personal thoughts,
how can any form of poetry be wrong?When you read a poem by another,
are you not just interpreting that piece
from your own point of view?
You’re not looking at it from
someone else’s point of view are you?
Of course you’re not, how could you?I’ve seen people abuse the act
of critique to the point of making
it seem as though their opinion,
is much more valuable than anyone else’s.How can an opinion be more valuable
than another? Is that possible?
When we write poetry, we are just simply
writing words that reflect some emotion
that we are feeling at that particular moment.We may even think about it, but regardless,
when it’s all said and done, you’re left with
something beautiful that mimics the feelings
you felt while you allowed the flow of your
thoughts to metamorphosize onto paper.Critiquing is a respectable deed to give to
another, so that they may perfect their craft.
But it is just an act of applying an opinion.
The true gift of the word comes from the poet
and how they define their emotions.The poet who created the expression
is the true critic of his or her own work.
The rest is just there for flavoring something
that may otherwise already taste divine.It’s just art and art can only be appreciated.
**I probably don’t make sense here. On some other boards, I read some work from other poets. In the comment areas, I found nothing that I would classify as a critique. It was more like shredding that poet’s work apart. Anal Retentive is the word that came to my mind. I have seen critiques done in a very professional and civil manner. I just hate to see people abuse their ‘critic’ status to voice an opinion that is basically cruel.
I’m also aware that maybe we can learn from our peers. But, there is no reason to imply to others that you possess some grandiose mind for poetry. You know, they told Stephen King that he shouldn’t quit his day job. They told him he was the worst writer they had seen. Makes you wonder sometimes. Sorry for the rant.**
Angelwolf
surely once we make the desicion to post a peice of poetry we allow others the right to comment on that peice of work, no matter how personal it may be. we open ourselves up to criticism and others opinions and we have to accept good and bad comments from everyone.
like i said before i would rather someone be honest about my writing than pretend they liked it just to spare my feelings. how am i meant to grow as a writer if i get dishonest opinions all the time? it would be foolish of me to expect everyone to like every peice of work i produce. if someone wishes to rip my poetry apart then they are more than welcome to as long as it is done in a constructive manner and would eventually help me to improve the way i write.
James did you see that wonderful ,beautiful logic from all these great people , go ahead James say what you think-William :)yes I did William – not sure I would call logic wonderful or beautiful tbh but it was clear enough. Anything that brings genuine pleasure to even one person is worthy of a post and I do think people who bare their souls through poetry are being incredibly brave. Still don’t think I will be commenting on individual poems tho (for the reasons I stated earlier) but I hope others may feel able to offer critiques now. Thanks to all who replied and good luck with your work.
I think it all depends on the spirit the criticism is made in. Telling someone their work reads as if has been written by an emotionally retarded fifth former and is just plain shyte, whilst it may be true, is not helpful to anyone.
When you’ve something to say, constructive criticism is the order of the day, I think.
A poet writes always of his personal life; in his finest work out of it’s tragedy, whatever it be, remorse, lost love, or mere loneliness; he never speaks directly as to someone at the breakfast table, there is always a phantasmagoria. . . Even when the poet seems most himself, when he is Raleigh and gives potentates the lie, or Shelley “a nerve o’er which do creep the else unfelt oppressions of this earth,” or Byron “and the soul wears out the breast” as “the sword outwears its sheath,” he is never the bundle of accident and incoherence that sits down to breakfast; he has been reborn as an idea, something intended, complete.
Few poets have been more explicitly attentive to the deliberate creation of a poetic self than William Butler Yeats. The above is taken from his “A General Introduction for my Work”.
Although I am not a restrictive Poetry Purist to the point where Form and Technique are the be all and end all. I do strongly believe that certain degrees of Artistry are essential when distinguishing POETRY from mere (yikes) RHYME.
I do think that calling certain Rhyme Poetry does great poems and great poets a erm… great disservice :?Honest expression is a wonderful thing… rewarding, thought provoking and inspiring. But just because it is always honest .. does not mean it’s always Art.
“Art is Art because it is not nature”, as Yeats used to like reminding himself, providing his own little take on Goethe’s statement.The urm.. corrupting possiblities of direct self expression make verse merely confessional. Which is grand y’know? It can be quite fascinating and challenging… but it is NOT poetry in my opinion.
Yeats’ image of the breakfast table is a significant one. It stands for the crude material of everyday life, not yet mediated through the transforming agency of art . T.S. Eliot also touched on this in some ways with his whole “Objective Correlative” gig – although that leaned more towards the context of Drama.
From a point of view of “overdone” another kitchen-esque scenario could be applied (my own alas :oops: ) – the sublime nuance of real filtered coffee in comparison to that awful over bashed, bland and obvious instant muck :? (a poor extension on the splendid Yeats metaphor I know, which sorta proves it’s own point actually :) ).:? Sheesh
:roll: Anyway…
The random, arbitrary and formless are replaced or reborn with the skill and dedication of the wordsmith.. the artisan.. the Poet.
(and of course in the world of coffee – with the filter.. the cafetiere.. the Percolator :P )
Well Sgt Pepper ,you really went into this deeply but cleverly you disguised the fact that you were leaving all ends open , in other words inconclusive as of course all forms of art, that is precisely why it is called art ,it is self expression – WilliamGood post Poshy. And you Pepper.
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