Good vs. Bad Poetry

[TygerLili]

First of all, I really didn't know where to put this, so if the mods want to move it, I won't be upset.

I was about to respond to someone's comment in another thread about bad poetry and I decided to start my own topic instead.

What do you think constitutes "good" or "bad" poetry?

Are there tangible elements that would make you think of something as "good" or "bad," or is it all about the ideas and the poem as a whole?

If there are errors with grammar, spelling or punctuation in something that you would otherwise consider a "good" poem, does that ruin the whole thing for you?

Who, if anyone, is qualified to say what constitutes "good" or "bad" poetry?

I think I'll see what others have to say before I put in my 2 cents.

[the eternal]

Good topic!

I think it's true that opinions are subjective.

That said, there are certain genres of music I can do without, but yet I can still respect that Beyonce or Amy Winehouse know how to sing.

To the matter at hand:

I think it's downright embarrassing that if you say you're a writer, that you don't know how to spell, or at least use

the fucking spellcheck button

(FYI: It's to the right of the box with the big A and right next to a blue arrow pointing down and to the left)

I think there's a difference between pushing the boundaries of what is and isn't poetry, and just writing random shit as if you're talking to a stranger in a grocery line at Kroger's and calling it poetry.

Using the same tired clichés in your writing is the mark of bad poetry.

There's a reason why they're considered clichés

If I think I've seen Sebastian Bach sing better words than what you've written, it's bad poetry.

If it doesn't provoke any type of emotion, show any type of depth, show any type of intelligence, it's bad poetry.

If I think I've seen better musings from the inside of a "Hey you're turning 6!" hallmark card, it's bad poetry.

If you think the only way to write a poem is by plaintively stating your emotions in rhyming verse, chances are you write bad poetry.

If when asked to name your literary muses, you cite Kid Rock and Jewel, chances are you write bad poetry.

If when asked what your favorite novels are, you name The Big Book of Glamour and Cosmo's Beauty Tips, chances are you write bad poetry.

That's all for now folks.

See me opening for Jeff Foxworthy in Canton, OH on June 24th, June 25th and another date added June 26th

and opening and reading Howl by Allen Ginsberg tonight in my bedroom

[jynxxxedangel]

Well spoken, and profound as usual, the eternal.

Although poetry is best served raw, it isn't best served cold.

[creatureofthenyte]

I think it is largely a matter of interpretation and or opinion.

Tyger, you and I could read the same piece of poetry and possibly agree on whether it is good or bad,

while someone else could read it and have a differing opinion.

[the eternal]

On October 13, 2007 I darkened a corner of DGN with my musings on the state of poetry on this board.

(Although in all fairness, I was also commenting on all the new Facebook/Livejournal/myspace poets as well)

The subject title was The Darkest Most Evil Creation Ever!

Wielder of the Poisoned Pen

Your pen bleeds poop

Dark crappy tripe left from the unwiped ass of a

Trent Reznor lookalike

who finally decided to give a shit

Graveyards and black souls

Cheesy rhymes about who filled your holes

Self proclaimed bard

that can barely spell his name

Plip plop

Dash of darkness

Plop plip

Suicidal tendencies

School English classes skipped

for the wizard of self-teaching

Halo 3 master,

dungeon overlord with pleather accents,

Evil incarnate playing with the worlds destruction

Lying in the dungeon of birthgiver’s haunting

…Would you like fries with that

[jynxxxedangel]

Perfect. But you knew that.

[Rev.Reverence]

e is so the bard of bards

a bards bard

this bards bard

.

[jynxxxedangel]

"I can't see

The end of me

My whole expanse

I cannot see

I formulate infinity

And store it deep inside of me"

These Meat Puppets lyrics are so fitting, here.

Edited June 20, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[the eternal]

e is so the bard of bards

a bards bard

this bards bard

.

You're just doing it to get my lazy ass up on stage at Trixie's again.

I'm on to your game.

[Rev.Reverence]

You're just doing it to get my lazy ass up on stage at Trixie's again.

I'm on to your game.

..no...really, I wasn't.....but, since you brought it up..I will bring up the fact that you DO owe our listeners a repeat performance......tomorrow night IS Father's Day...& we are going to be there in full force...all 3 hosts in a chaotic mix of poetically miscreant behaviors & thoughtfully emotive rants...

[TygerLili]

Personally, while someone's poem may not appeal to me, I never really feel like I have any right to deem it bad. It's an extremely subjective area. For me, writing a poem is a very raw, cathartic experience, and, at least in the first draft, I tend not to worry as much about word usage and cliches. I might go back later and tweak lines that I think are weak if I actually intend to ever share the poem with anyone, which I rarely do anymore.

As far as grammar is concerned, a misspelled word or an incorrect comma isn't going to phase me if I like the poem. Bad grammar or a string of misspelled words will kill it for me, because it interrupts the flow of the words.

I do, however, feel that if you are going to write poetry or anything else, it's important to be well read; and by well read, I don't mean that you've read all the Twilight and Harry Potter books.