Often on poetry sites
the poet will explain
what the poem is about
I always say
if you have to explain it
it is not a worthy poem
poems should be
readable, understandable
simple in their text
and their message
poems should not confuse
or make the reader give up
poems are meant to be read
and enjoyed by everyone
like a simple reader
in first grade
basic and direct
eliminate the cutesy stuff
and get on with
what you have to say
and that's all there is
about this poem.
This reminds me of a book title recently discovered: "How To Understand Poetry And Why". Notwithstanding the assumption of
a certain level of competence in the use of language, I found the
title helped explain "how" and "why" there is an abundance of
over-our-heads stuff around these days - as if the writer had
acquired a thesaurus and encyclopaedias of metaphysical and fable
content with the intent to confuse and confound - exemplifying
the word "condescension".
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Graham Sherwood
Wed 8th Apr 2020 13:12
I missed this earlier D.K
I agree with your sentiment about the need to explain ones work. However, I don't think it should always been understandable, or at least not immediately so.
Some poets write for themselves and not an audience but if an audience 'gets it' so much the better.
I do consider that much poetry is in the 'throwaway' mould which I think is a shame. Part of the art of writing (for me) is the consideration of a piece, before pen goes to paper.