A Certain Snobbery In Poetry

[ShadowsCool]

A Certain Snobbery In Poetry

There's a certain snobbery going on in poetry,
A certain "in club" that likes to exalt themselves to the highest stars.

They got their idols, the bards and the Coleridge's,
And they like to swear by em as the craft they fully know.

But ah, onto sullen faces; itty bitty traces of raindrops
Come a calling from the poetic -

Wondering who are these snobs who know it all?
With ears closed, their eyes open nevermore.


~

[Delta40]

I hope you're referring to those that 'know' everything there is to know about poetry but don't actually write it....:lol:

[ShadowsCool]

Ah, yeah, I'm talking about "those" who seem to know the technicalities but forget to use a pen. :lol:

[Delta40]

Lol. I might as well live in Australia, study the lives and history of Afghanistan women, proclaim to be an objective authority on it and then post online to similar theorists what these women need to do to in order to be better women, never leaving the comfort of my surroundings or without ever talking to one single Afghani woman!

[ShadowsCool]

As we know, poetry is not something we do for glory. The pay is non-existent and the craft takes some work. Yet we do it because our soul bleeds words to express. Of course, proper training helps the poet master his/her expression on paper.

There is no certain way to express one's soul; only what works for that writer. I would say, learn all you can, but find your own style and revel in it. And listen not to the experts, who are expert at showing your assumed deficiency's.

[Delta40]

Don't worry Shadows. I can be as selective as the next person. A so called authority has posted elsewhere that they hate the poetry forum. Why give them any credibility when their so self-proclaimed knowledge doesn't extend to supporting poets become better at their craft in the first place? I have full regard for Morpheus because he is prepared to step out of the intellectual box and apply his learning to poets as a learning tool.

[ShadowsCool]

Don't worry Shadows. I can be as selective as the next person. A so called authority has posted elsewhere that they hate the poetry forum. Why give them any credibility when their so self-proclaimed knowledge doesn't extend to supporting poets become better at their craft in the first place? I have full regard for Morpheus because he is prepared to step out of the intellectual box and apply his learning to poets as a learning tool.

I agree Delta. Speaking of Morpheus; he is willing to step out of the box and apply what he's learned to help the poets who post in this forum. Bravo to him and his like!

[MorpheusSandman]

Awww, well, thanks for the kudos, guys, but now you have me curious as to whom is being referred to!

As to this poem, I have some questions and comments:

1. Who is "Coolidge"? The president?

2. "Raining who" is a strange phrase...

3. I don't like "poetic sky." Just let the "poetic" part be implied.

I think there's a kernal of a good piece of satire here, but maybe some of the images or ideas could do with some development. As is, the best part is S3 with the raindrops "calling" (nice switch from "falling"), but I feel as if S4 ends a bit too abruptly.

[ShadowsCool]

Awww, well, thanks for the kudos, guys, but now you have me curious as to whom is being referred to!

Better to leave that to the imagination.




1. Who is "Coolidge"? The president?

How embarrassing. I did a spellcheck without realizing that it was the president I was referring to. My boo boo


2. "Raining who" is a strange phrase...

It is strange. But so far, I've yet to come up with something better. Go figure.


3. I don't like "poetic sky." Just let the "poetic" part be implied.

You got a point. I wrote this in a huff (a rush), with tongue in cheek.


I think there's a kernal of a good piece of satire here, but maybe some of the images or ideas could do with some development. As is, the best part is S3 with the raindrops "calling" (nice switch from "falling"), but I feel as if S4 ends a bit too abruptly.
Thanks for commenting!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Don't worry Shadows. I can be as selective as the next person. A so called authority has posted elsewhere that they hate the poetry forum. Why give them any credibility when their so self-proclaimed knowledge doesn't extend to supporting poets become better at their craft in the first place? I have full regard for Morpheus because he is prepared to step out of the intellectual box and apply his learning to poets as a learning tool.
Is this a reference to me?

[paradoxical]

It seems that certain people live poetry; it's in their bones. Others think about it.

I guess both are necessary.

[ShadowsCool]

Is this a reference to me?

Ah, you changed your quote LOL. A steaming pile it may be, but it was never meant to be anything other.

As for Delta making reference, I'll leave that up to her!:rolleyes5:

[Jerrybaldy]

know what you meant. i think.

[Delta40]

Is this a reference to me?

I don't why you would think that Mutatis since you're an active participant on the poetry and short story forums!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Ah, you changed your quote LOL. A steaming pile it may be, but it was never meant to be anything other.

As for Delta making reference, I'll leave that up to her!:rolleyes5:
Yeah, I changed it. I rethought my hasty post (I do that a lot lately, go back and edit what I write--it's the only reason I'm still on the forums, trust me). But, just to clarify, I don't think this is a steaming pile--I was speaking hypothetically . . . though, honestly, I don't find it to be excellent--poems written for the express purpose of making a commentary on poetry are very, very hard to pull off, and this one just comes off as someone who has a condescending attitude to those they think have a condescending attitude.

I don't why you would think that Mutatis since you're an active participant on the poetry and short story forums!
Well, I did mention in my latest blog that I found most of what's posted in the poetry forum to be bad, and since I just said that and you know you read blogs, just thought it a possibility. And I'm not that active, really, not like most posters in the poetry section.

[ShadowsCool]

Ah...that's okay, it is a pile of rubble. Much like what I've been writing these days. I hope it drops like a rock. I need a break from writing, period. It's been a year and half of non-stop writing and I need to clear my head. I think I'll read a lot. Plus I got a busy Summer ahead with decisions I need to make.

Writing is the most frustrating genre I know of. You have so many ideas popping off in your head, yet very few make it to the goal line. It's a tough game and I rather be the reader sitting on my couch. For now at least. We'll see.

[Delta40]

Ah...that's okay, it is a pile of rubble. Much like what I've been writing these days. I hope it drops like a rock. I need a break from writing, period. It's been a year and half of non-stop writing and I need to clear my head. I think I'll read a lot. Plus I got a busy Summer ahead with decisions I need to make.

Writing is the most frustrating genre I know of. You have so many ideas popping off in your head, yet very few make it to the goal line. It's a tough game and I rather be the reader sitting on my couch. For now at least. We'll see.

Sounds like you're being kind to yourself Shadows. Nothing wrong with doing that either!

[AuntShecky]

I think I agree with the thought of this piece. I often get frustrated trying to figure out what the poet is trying to say in poems that seem almost deliberately obtuse and dense. I guess critics of poetry can get one's goat as well, which is what I think your verse is getting at. Empty dry theory vs.
the expressiveness poetry.

At the risk of being as pedantic as the criticism you're railing about-- Be careful about the use of apostrophes. Use them to show possession, but not simple plurals: "Coleridges," "deficiencies," etc.