The Future Of Poetry
By John Kaniecki
I believe strongly in poetry. It has worked before, and it will
work again. It is infused in the culture of every civilization. Whether it's
the Bible, the Odyssey, or Shakespeare, poetry has been extremely popular.
Today poetry lacks the prestige it once held. There are no Robert Frosts in our
time and age, let alone William Shakespeare. But that will all change with
one simple formula. Let me share the secret.
Give the people what they want. Note I didn't say the editors, and
I certainly didn't say, other poets. I said the people meaning the masses, the
everyday man or woman who make up America. In fact, poetry in the form of musical song is both extremely popular and profitable.
A song lyric is a subgenre of poetry. It has an extremely tight
format. There are strict rhyming and rhythm patterns. Also, there is a chorus
that features a hook. All of this is done with a small number of lines.
What we have today in the poetry world are poems written for other
poets. I heard a friend say that poetry is the only genre with more writers
than readers. Why is that? I believe that poetry has lost its way—the exact
reasons why this is I do not at this time care to elaborate. But let me say it
doesn't matter how much education an engineer has if his invention is inferior
to the man who never went to college. This principle applies to the world of
poetry as well.
So what makes a great poem?
Number one, it has to communicate something. Why do so many people
love the Beatles? I think the primary reason is that when they sing a song,
people apply it to their personal life. That they recognize in the lyrics a
situation very similar to what they have faced in their lives. This is evident
in how the crowd sings along, sometimes word for word with the performer. The
lyrics aren't archaic. Instead, the opposite is true; they are transparent;
something is communicated.
Secondly, a poem must deliver something when it is read. That is,
the language must tingle the ears in some pleasurable fashion. This is one of
the primary differences between poetry and prose. Poetry is, or at least should
be, the magical wording that entices the soul. Let's go back to an expert,
William Shakespeare. How did he accomplish his success? His poetry is written
with strict rhythm and rhyme. We poets would do well to note that. Of course,
his presentations are enhanced with drama, metaphors, and imagery. But
primarily, his words sing in a captivating way when uttered.
I went to the bookstore the other day and looked over the poetry
section. As usual, it is tiny, especially when compared to the number of poetry
books out there. I noticed an author I wasn't familiar with and picked up the
book. I read one poem and placed it back down. I got nothing out of the poem.
Poems need to make people cry. Poems need to make people laugh.
Poems need to make people think. Poems need to define life and give the words
that others are searching for. All this needs to be done in a way where the
words entice the mind. We need someone like Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Maya
Angelou, T.S. Eliot, or Emily Dickenson. The community of poets needs to get
back in touch with what poetry is really about.
And now, in conclusion, I
will tell you why poetry is not as successful as it was. Writing the poetry I'm talking about takes a whole host of talent. Look at great songwriters, and
one would note that it is a very exclusive crowd. Am I saying no poets have
ability today? Absolutely not! But they are developing themselves into writing
in a complex format that, by nature, is cryptic. What they need is a K.I.S.S of
keep it simple stupid.
With the world of publishing so wide open with self-publishing and
small presses, a whole new generation of popular poets will arise. When I get a
book review, and it says something to the effect of "I don't like poetry,
but I liked this book," I smile and know I've done my job. It is only a
matter of time before poetry books will once more be popular sellers.
POET TO THE POOR, REVOLUTIONARY POETRY
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