Poetry in Modern Literary Culture

It is very distressing that poetry is no longer regarded as an essential literary nutrient outside of the realm of poets. Newspapers are no longer posting poetry reviews, and if they do, they are slim to none. The general press provides very little coverage of poetry or poets. While there are existing today literary journals that print verse, they have exonerated the printing of literary reviews. They publish page upon page of jam-packed poems, one right after the other. Reading these journals is an absolute travesty and completely defames the spiritual culture of verse. And yet, the poor and unsuspecting, first-time poet still believes that this is a creditworthy accomplishment. 

There is, however, an exceptional escalation for the need of the art. There are a record number of literary magazines being established and thousands of poetry books being published both in the self-published industry as well as in the traditional sector every year. There are a vast amount of teaching careers in creative writing, book awards, poetry contests, conventions and retreats. In fact, there are a number of programs federally, state and/or privately funded to help further and enhance the writing careers of poets. Colleges are filled with students studying poetry from undergraduates to graduates.

Poetry is a specialized art that proffers to unique spectators. Over the years, however, the viewers have progressively become the creators thereby vastly decreasing the readership base. Unwittingly, the same organizations that promote writing poetry have sponsored the fall of spectators. The focus needs to redirect toward the fundamental value of reading verse. Ask an avid reader who their favorite contemporary poet is and you are likely to obtain a blank stare for an answer. Query aspiring poets who the U.S. Poet Laureate is and you are likely to get a resounding bewilderment. Now, ask a few fiction writers who their favorite authors are and you’d better be prepared to take those names down in shorthand. A complete paradox, wouldn’t you say?  Names such as John Grisham, Dan Brown and Dean Koontz may spark some great conversation whereas names like Billy Collins, Charles Simic and Rita Dove would be completely foreign.

Poets continually promote themselves by posting their poetry on the internet, reading their poetry, submitting their work to small literary presses, attending workshops and the occasional retreat. In fact, the number of venues hosting readings has dramatically increased over the years. When the authors at these events read verse, however, it is usually their own. This neither promotes the poet nor the art, but rather, further laminates poetry from the thriving literary world. Readers should prepare a large selection of poems from all different poets, alongside of their own to read. This will establish the author’s true admiration of the art, and at the same time, will help revive its essentialness.

There is another, more destructive problem looming over contemporary poetry.  With all of the thousands of run-of-the-mill verse being published annually, it is well presumed among our erudite readers and literary society that momentous poetry is a thing of the past. It is up to poets to take pause, reevaluate prior to publishing and work together to bring back, out of the catacombs of isolation the vital essentialness of verse.In closing, I would like to give you some helpful suggestions for improving your craft.

The Expressive Rut.  Often times, you will find that you are in an “expressive rut,” which is a term that I use for poets who are experiencing “writer’s block.”  Either you are drawing a complete blank, or you may find that you are writing about the same feelings or thoughts. Or, you may be using the same words over and over again in your verse. When this happens, take a break from writing altogether and find a new muse. For instance, you may try taking a walk in the park, going to the beach, watching a movie, or reading a book of poetry.  Write when you are “uninspired.”  Write when you are “unemotional.” Most of all, write to be read, not to work through some personal difficulty.

The Vocabulary Debate.  You find yourself stuck on a verse. You know what you are trying to say and you cannot quite find the exact word you are looking for, so you “make a word up.” This is completely unacceptable and is a literary expulsion. Do not, under any circumstances, make up a word. Read the dictionary or study the thesaurus. There is always a word for what you want to say. Poetry is an art, however, it is a literary art and you must use real vocabulary.

Even Free Verse is not Free.  Do not write a letter, break it off where you feel like it and call it verse. This is not a poem and does not qualify as free verse.  Watch your meter and your flow. Meter Example One (Wrong) 

Meter Example One (Wrong)
She walked through the desert
With her cane
And hurried back
To me


Meter Example Two (Right)
Through the desert
She walked with cane
And hurried back
To me –

Letter Example (Do Not Do)
I wanted to let you know that I landed safely.
The plane ride was delayed and although
it was supposed to be a three hour ride,
it took six hours, but at least we made it.
I have jet lag and I am really hungry so
I am going to get some food to eat now
but I wanted to tell you that I made it safely.

Rising Above It All

Unfortunately, what is becoming an all too common thread shared by people from all over the world is depression. The lassitude of uncertainty, the harrow of security, and starvation (in the broad sense of the word) coupled with the usual stressors of relationship issues, adverse influences affecting our familial home, money matters and demanding jobs is taking its toll. Suicide is on the rise, the sale of drugs for depression and anxiety has more than quadrupled over the last decade and the restrictions being placed upon us by our political surrounds is more than caging. The populace stands around the water coolers talking about the disasters striking from all ends, voices that speak in silence. How do we escape the inevitable confines of daily living? Where is it that we are able to find solace? When will despair stop wreaking havoc?


There is no one simple solution. However, there is one answer for the majority and that is to regain control over you. While you cannot change the perpetual chains that continually harass your wellbeing, you do have complete control over your personal identity. Falling victim to your surroundings is only natural. After all, there is only so much weight you can bear. However, enduring such weight does not mean you have to fall to being a sufferer of it. Moreover, you do not need to rely on the wealth of someone else’s sympathy. That is not to say, under any circumstances, that you do not require understanding and compassion. Yes, that is absolutely essential. When there is no one around you that you feel can identify with you, where do you turn? The answer is, you turn to you.  Liberation of self starts with acceptance of all of the issues you feel are insurmountable, the knowledge of whom you were prior to your imprisonment and the desire to reclaim your peaceful inheritance.

Your circumstances are not indicative of the person you are and any detriment inflicted upon you by another is out of your hegemony. Dwelling over external influences is nothing more than an impediment to reaching your goals both materially as well as internally. How does this philosophy apply to your daily life? Simply put, if you are unable to remove yourself from a situation of detriment that you find yourself in, refrain from allowing its effects to intrude you. Remember, you and you alone maintain absolute dominion over you.

What About Poetry

Poetry is the inexhaustible vehicle that allows the progression of the otherwise undecipherable to flourish into meaning.  It is the uninhibited expression of the mind’s eye and the heart’s fervor.  For centuries, people have been writing verse to demonstrate their feelings, their thoughts and passions.  The mystical pen finds its home within the hands of the thousands weaving the intricate details of their world onto paper.  For those of a structured mind, the forms of poetry (i.e., Haiku, Bio, Burlesque, Cinquain, Ekphrasis) provide for the ease of thoughts to run free within a suited environment.  However it is written, poetry is and will always remain the unimpeded language of virtual thought and feeling. 

What, then, may hamper the flow of a poetic expression for a reader?  Many people have different theories regarding what is ‘good’ poetry and what is ‘mediocre’ poetry.  However, there are a few designates everyone can agree on. 

What ruins an otherwise fluid poem? 

The number one select is spelling errors.  There is nothing more frustrating than reading a piece of well-documented poetry and coming across the proverbial “teh” instead of “the.”  Or, the classic ‘made up word.’  I have come across many poems that have ersatz words, and I am not speaking of the purposely written poems in that respect.  I am speaking of the poems that for whatever the reason, the poet could not figure out the exact word to be used, so instead, fabricated one.  Misspelled and/or invented words are degrading to the expression of the poem.

Another nomination for how to impair the expression of a poem would be to write with raw emotion.  The one that reads like a letter, to the ‘ex,’ for example:    

How could you hurt me like that -
All I did was love you-
How dare you do that to me -

This example is boring, lacks insight and depth, and is merely a thought written on paper.  Simply writing your emotions on paper, even if you set it up to look like a poem, is not a poem.  The above example is nothing more than someone writing about raw thoughts.  It is neither original, nor is it poetic. 

Another prime paradigm would be, “My love withered like a rose.”  This is a very monotonous phrase.  Also, be very careful when rhyming.  An example of what not to do: “And when it was time to go, oh how the wind did blow.”  This is extremely dull.   

What makes for a good poem?  Remember that anything worth while takes time.  Write it, read it, edit it, re-read it.  Make sure you have no spelling mistakes.  No one is above the editing.  You wrote it, yes.  Now, it is time for you to read it as an outsider.  Do you like it?  Is it the most accurate depiction of what you meant to say, or could you have said it better?  When writing poetry, remember, you are not restrained to your current vocabulary.  Use the Thesaurus, it is your friend.  Use the dictionary, it is your guide.  Venture out into new territories.  Write about obscurities, not just your emotions.  If you are writing emotionally, try taking your writing to new levels.  For example, instead of saying, “Your love healed my broken heart,” try something like, “Your love caressed my doleful core.”  Challenge yourself to write beyond your comfort zone.  Write when your emotions are at a lull.  For instance, write down the first 5 or 6 words that burst into your head.  Give no second thought to them, and let your pen guide you. 

Write to be disentangled.