Poetry?

[Aldan9]

Yesterday, after many gruelling months of work, sweat and fallen hair a book of poetry of which I happen to be a co-author finally appeared in front of the public. I was surprised how many people came to the book opening thing. I'm not going to go into any details mainly because the poems are in my native language, romanian.

What I'd like to know is this: does poetry have any relevance in these times?

 

[Satin6T]

poetry will have revelance as long as you(the author) makes it relevant

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[El Poncho]

It's nice to hear a poem every once and a while but i'm not a big fan of poems that don't rhyme or structure. Although my english teacher insists on giving me poems like that.

 

[Lord George]

I think it does poetry is still a powerful and strong medium for expressing a message to many people in a simple and non-committal way (as opposed to a book). Good work on getting your work published by the way, hope it sells well.

 

[Aldan9]

The thing is, modern poetry often uses all sort of cyphers and coded language as not to give away the whole content without the reader giving it some thought. Most people prefer prose since it's less cryptic and easier to read.

poetry will have revelance as long as you(the author) makes it relevant

You may have a point there.

I think it does poetry is still a powerful and strong medium for expressing a message to many people in a simple and non-committal way (as opposed to a book). Good work on getting your work published by the way, hope it sells well.

That is true, one of the many things I like about writting poetry is the fact that you can say so much with so few words, and thanks.

 

[traceur_]

Nope, it's never been relevant.

 

[Aldan9]

Nope, it's never been relevant.

I'd yell "Blasphemy!" or "Burn the heathen!" normally but in this case I'd ask if you would care to elaborate on that.

 

[Gaderael]

It'll always be relevant. Otherwise, stop listening to any music with lyrics.

 

[traceur_]

Nope, it's never been relevant.

I'd yell "Blasphemy!" or "Burn the heathen!" normally but in this case I'd ask if you would care to elaborate on that.

Has poetry ever affected the outcome of a war? An election? A natural disaster? Spilled milk?

Has it ever done anything marginally beneficial on a notable scale?

Is it anything more than addressing an issue in pointlessly obscure words? What good is poetry when those same views can be expressed directly and in a far more efficient manner?

 

[Sonicron]

Among the circle of the literary arts, poetry will never truly leave its relevance or significance. Poems most often need interpretation, so they give people food for thought which in turn often spawns healthy and lively discussion. Also, the subject matter in a lot of poetry is timeless, which contributes to its relevance rather than detract from it.

On a side note, congratulations on your book getting published! Hope it sells well.

 

[Aldan9]

Your questions aren't all that fair.

Has poetry ever affected the outcome of a war? An election? A natural disaster? Spilled milk?

Has it ever done anything marginally beneficial on a notable scale?

Is it anything more than addressing an issue in pointlessly obscure words? What good is poetry when those same views can be expressed directly and in a far more efficient manner?

You can't expect it to do such things as it doesn't have much to do with wars, election or disasters or milk. Silly questions, I fail to see the point of them.

Have you undergone some traumatic experiences with poetry in school? You're not being rational as much as your are flaming. In any case, poetry is supposed to soothe your soul and feed your thoughs, I mean seriously, even prayers themselves are poems.

As for the pointlessly obscure part, well, there's no tree without a withered branch.
Have you ever really tried to give reading poetry some time and attention?
Check out satirical poetry if you're interested in saying things in an efficient manner.

 

[traceur_]

Has poetry ever affected the outcome of a war? An election? A natural disaster? Spilled milk?

Has it ever done anything marginally beneficial on a notable scale?

Is it anything more than addressing an issue in pointlessly obscure words? What good is poetry when those same views can be expressed directly and in a far more efficient manner?

Your questions aren't all that fair.

You can't expect it to do such things as it doesn't have much to do with wars, election or disasters or milk. Silly questions, I fail to see the point of them.

I'm saying that it doesn't affect anything important, it doesn't do anything so it can't really be "relevant " can it?

Have you undergone some traumatic experiences with poetry in school? You're not being rational as much as your are flaming. In any case, poetry is supposed to soothe your soul and feed your thoughts, I mean seriously, even prayers themselves are poems.

Soothe my soul and feed my thoughts? ...

Riiiiiight... Look mate, I'm not flaming anyone, I'm just saying poetry is pointless, that's not an insult, politics is relevant to our time, genetic engineering is relevant to our time, poetry isn't.

As for the pointlessly obscure part, well, there's no tree without a withered branch.
Have you ever really tried to give reading poetry some time and attention?
Check out satirical poetry if you're interested in saying things in an efficient manner.

No tree without a... what?

Whatever, yeh, I have read heaps of poetry, and I understand the social commentary and all that, it's just that it's pointless.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Riiiiiight... Look mate, I'm not flaming anyone, I'm just saying poetry is pointless, that's not an insult, politics is relevant to our time, genetic engineering is relevant to our time, poetry isn't.

But surely you could say the same about music, film and games? All of those things provide entertainment to people, as does poetry, so they're pointless too?

 

[MalevolentJim]

Read Robert Frost's poems,they bare alot of relevance for todays generations.

 

[freakaknight]

Poems are ever relevant. Just so happens I just read through some of my faved (Shakespeare) sonnets,128 just to name one. Even now, many of hundreds of years later, I still find myself consulting this sonnet with feelings which are complimented by this work.

So yes lol

 

[traceur_]

Riiiiiight... Look mate, I'm not flaming anyone, I'm just saying poetry is pointless, that's not an insult, politics is relevant to our time, genetic engineering is relevant to our time, poetry isn't.

But surely you could say the same about music, film and games? All of those things provide entertainment to people, as does poetry, so they're pointless too?

Of course. Perhaps some arguments could be made in favour of the relevance of film but it is mostly pointless, that is not to say they're bad in any way, but just that it wouldn't really matter if one form of entertainment were to not exist. As a whole they are relevant, entertainment is very important, but on their own they don't make much of a difference.

 

[Cavouku]

Riiiiiight... Look mate, I'm not flaming anyone, I'm just saying poetry is pointless, that's not an insult, politics is relevant to our time, genetic engineering is relevant to our time, poetry isn't.

But surely you could say the same about music, film and games? All of those things provide entertainment to people, as does poetry, so they're pointless too?

Of course. Perhaps some arguments could be made in favour of the relevance of film but it is mostly pointless, that is not to say they're bad in any way, but just that it wouldn't really matter if one form of entertainment were to not exist. As a whole they are relevant, entertainment is very important, but on their own they don't make much of a difference.

I found that The Raven was very relevant to a good deal of our school system for a few weeks.

Poetry is the deep shit, not just as a form of entertainment, but as one of the deepest ways to express something. Without poetry you'd find a lot of things completely, insanely different from it is now. Books, movies, plays, and yes, poetry, has a deeper impact then is probably visible.

 

[traceur_]

Riiiiiight... Look mate, I'm not flaming anyone, I'm just saying poetry is pointless, that's not an insult, politics is relevant to our time, genetic engineering is relevant to our time, poetry isn't.

But surely you could say the same about music, film and games? All of those things provide entertainment to people, as does poetry, so they're pointless too?

Of course. Perhaps some arguments could be made in favour of the relevance of film but it is mostly pointless, that is not to say they're bad in any way, but just that it wouldn't really matter if one form of entertainment were to not exist. As a whole they are relevant, entertainment is very important, but on their own they don't make much of a difference.

I found that The Raven was very relevant to a good deal of our school system for a few weeks.

Poetry is the deep shit, not just as a form of entertainment, but as one of the deepest ways to express something. Without poetry you'd find a lot of things completely, insanely different from it is now. Books, movies, plays, and yes, poetry, has a deeper impact then is probably visible.

I know what you mean, but could you explain how far the depth extends beyond the pointless obscurity?

Or is it just that, obscurity for the sake of obscurity?

 

[Cavouku]

I know what you mean, but could you explain how far the depth extends beyond the pointless obscurity?

Or is it just that, obscurity for the sake of obscurity?

Seems a little stereotypical, not all poems are obscure. But for the ones that are; the obscurity is, if nothing more, to make you think, instead of spelling everything out. That's kinda' the point.

You don't bad mouth a swimming fish.