Is This Poetry? Standards in Poetry – “industry” vs. “other”
Recently, a fellow writer and novice poet came to me feeling very dejected after writing another poem. She writes:
I have this big question hanging over my head… is this poetry? I would say yes, but some have said it’s just prose. I feel off with my poetry and always have. I seem to get knocked down for not having “deep” poetry or using symbolism and “taking it seriously”.
So is this what I can expect? If I write a poem about farting will it be rejected because it doesn’t talk about death or love or some great cause? Will a poem about nature that uses small words and the voice of a seven year old be rejected because bigger words are needed for poetry? Can I just K.I.S.S (keep it simple stupid), send it off, and still call it poetry or is there some high standard that I’m just not getting that educated and professional poets all know?
A bit discouraged… but of course, still writing!
Hugs and much love,
Fellow Poet
Dear Fellow Poet,
I have two schools of thought regarding your situation.
As you’re beginning to notice the “industry” has a stick up its butt. It’s very exclusive, literary, and high-browed. If you want to write poetry that will be published and respected in those circles you have to follow the standards of what “they” accept as poetry. According to them, poetry should be complex, deep, introspective, and full of greater truth and purpose. It should be written in a convoluted fashion that leaves readers wondering if they really “get it”. And, these days it should be written in a haphazard fashion with no true structure or rhyme.
The OTHER poetry industry, the one that hangs out in coffee shops having late night readings and who share a friendly banter but rarely get published and never become acclaimed follows very different standards. They are the ones who write poetry because they appreciate the candor and cadence of language. They know poetry is really about word-play and that it can range in depth and meaning. That school of thought knows that the sign of “real” poetry is in the way reading out loud leaves you feeling.
If you want to write “other” poetry, you may have to accept that it’s not anything you can build a career around or develop as a foundation for your writing platform. It is something you do because you love language and enjoy the challenge and pleasure of creating something that has rhythm and pattern. There isn’t really a sense of “getting better” at this kind of poetry. The only milestone or marker you can judge your poetry against would be yourself and the poetry you’ve written before. The greatest growth and accomplishment is a growing pride and confidence in your understanding and manipulation of language.
If you want to “grow” as a professional poet, to be accepted and published, to be taken seriously as a poet and work within the poetic industry then you may have to bow down to the current mindset regarding what constitutes poetry. That does mean writing poetry that is symbolic and deep rather than light-hearted and fun.
Or, you could leap from “poetry” into “children’s literature”. Because children’s books are written in a very poetic way. The cadence and candor are purposefully constructed to aid in the development of oral and written language skills. Children’s books are deliberately simple and fun. A light-hearted take on “farting” would be a hit amongst 6 to 12 yo boys and a pretty expression of the wonder of nature using simple words and a child’s voice would appeal to younger audiences.
Ultimately, you have to decide what you want from your writing and write what you love to write. Then find the right market or home for it. That may not be standard literary magazines and poetry markets. But, somewhere out there, someone will want to read your writing. Because when you break it down to passions and interests we aren’t all that unique. If you love it, odds are very high that there will be a sub-section of the population that will also love it.
Best of luck, chin up, don’t let the naysayers drag you down, and keep writing!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Laffar-Smith – a poet who writes poetry because she loves to play with words.