This is a tough question billy, not because people want to be modest or unduly proud. Good and Bad are such relative terms. Compared to every poet who posts in a forum, how are you? Compared to the published poets you enjoy, how do you stack up?
Here's all I can say, and I'm being completely honest. I'm better than I was last year. Last year I was better than I was three years ago, and so on. It's about continuous improvement and putting in the work.
I know I'll have to spend a year or more on writing blank verse.
I know I'll have to consider line breaks, and imagery, and diction for the rest of my life.
And I would challenge one other thing no matter who you are you can benefit from feedback. I love "Sex Without Love" by Sharon Olds. I would have loved to have written it. She has a few crap line breaks in it. That isn't even debatable. That said, it's a brilliant poem. It could be better though.
My goal is to get better. I'm only competing against myself, so the yardstick of good and bad doesn't apply.
Just my thoughts.
Here's all I can say, and I'm being completely honest. I'm better than I was last year. Last year I was better than I was three years ago, and so on. It's about continuous improvement and putting in the work.
I know I'll have to spend a year or more on writing blank verse.
I know I'll have to consider line breaks, and imagery, and diction for the rest of my life.
And I would challenge one other thing no matter who you are you can benefit from feedback. I love "Sex Without Love" by Sharon Olds. I would have loved to have written it. She has a few crap line breaks in it. That isn't even debatable. That said, it's a brilliant poem. It could be better though.
My goal is to get better. I'm only competing against myself, so the yardstick of good and bad doesn't apply.
Just my thoughts.
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson