Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Hi

This is topic Hi in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Katie (Member # 2909) on :

Hello my name is Katie, I was wondering if there were any other writers from Cali on Hatrack ...

Or anyone else who snowboards and writes, that is a rare combination, I feel like a diamond.

Ok so to make this not completely off topic, here is a question I pose to you poets,

"Can you define a good poem from a bad poem in freeverse, without basing it off your own bias?"

Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :

I don't think you can ever escape your own bias. But, that's just my personal bias talking. You remind me that I haven't been checking the "Introduce yourself here" folder.

Posted by Ahavah (Member # 2599) on :

A good poem touches you somehow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Poet is someone
Who can pour light into a cup,
Then raise it to nourish
Your beautiful parched, holy mouth

§ Hafiz §

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

Touches you emotionally?

If that's what you mean, I'd disagree with that. One of the marvels of poetry is that it is so language-centric, and sometimes a poem is enjoyable simply for the flavor of the its language rather than the content and meaning.

Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 1655) on :

Beautiful languange alone isn't enough for me to like a poem. The meaning of a poem--or my perceived notion of the poem--has to be important to me before I can begin to appreciate it.

Posted by jinkx (Member # 2798) on :

quote:
Poetry is something that should stir our emotions, or make us think new thoughts; whatever can do neither the one or the other may be very good verse, but it is not poetry. ~ Lafadio Hearn

That pretty much sums up my view of poetry. What's the point of poetry if it doesn't do this?

I agree with franc li. No matter what you do, you're always going to have your own personal bias getting in the way. But, if you dislike a poem because you disagree with some key idea in it -- to the point that it upsets you -- isn't that a sign that it is a very good poem?

Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :

quote:

Beautiful language alone
isn't enough for me to like a poem.

:-D

Posted by Ahavah (Member # 2599) on :

Ah, I said 'Touches you somehow'. So long as it touches you, it doesn't particularly matter.

quote:
Touches you emotionally?
If that's what you mean, I'd disagree with that. One of the marvels of poetry is that it is so language-centric, and sometimes a poem is enjoyable simply for the flavor of the its language rather than the content and meaning.

If it's fabulous language leaves you awestruck, wouldn't that count as touching you?

Now, what I consider a good poem may be different from what you consider a good poem. I just feel that poetry by definition is meant to reach out and grab you by the cajones one way or another, or it's just words on a page.