Hi, all!

I've been informally writing poetry for couple of months now, though I usually kept it to myself, and I was looking for forums when I stumbled upon this site. I'm looking forward to writing poetry and offering feedback.

Hi,

I'm a 25-year-old songwriter currently experiencing a writer's block. I turned to poetry because I've recently discovered the concept of bibliotherapy (... Yes, at 25, ... I guess that's because Nevada public education sucks.). I'm hoping that somehow by magic ('cause that's how it works here in the real world, right?) poetry could solve my problems with finding my voice and writing melodies.

To be frank, so far all poetry seems to me like self-indulgent exercises in cryptography/cryptology/whatever, a triumph of style over substance, disdain for communication, treating the meaning of the poem as something subordinate. Please, prove me wrong. I just don't see anything galvanizing about it.

Thanks in advance,

- Andrey.

(08-15-2016, 09:57 AM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  Hi,

I'm a 25-year-old songwriter currently experiencing a writer's block. I turned to poetry because I've recently discovered the concept of bibliotherapy (... Yes, at 25, ... I guess that's because Nevada public education sucks.). I'm hoping that somehow by magic ('cause that's how it works here in the real world, right?) poetry could solve my problems with finding my voice and writing melodies.

To be frank, so far all poetry seems to me like self-indulgent exercises in cryptography/cryptology/whatever, a triumph of style over substance, disdain for communication, treating the meaning of the poem as something subordinate. Please, prove me wrong. I just don't see anything galvanizing about it.

Thanks in advance,

- Andrey.

Try the Poems You Love thread in Poetry Discussion. If nothing there moves you maybe poetry is not for you and you can collaborate with a lyricist.

Oh, and hi, Alic, welcome to the site, both of you, I hope you enjoy it.

Andrey, the problems you describe with poetry are partly the problems that most poets have with the poetry that's currently lauded as "Poetry" by teachers and others who select Things That Are Special And Need To Be In The Canon.  The other part of the problem is the way that poetry is taught by these same knobheads educators who want it to be difficult and inaccessible because they themselves just don't get it.  

Poetry comes in many forms, with many voices.  I could say that the problem I have with music is that I can't sing along with a Hendrix guitar solo and it would be saying the same thing as you've just said -- it could be viewed as a challenge or a provocation, or it could just be shrugged off as ignorance.  I'm going to invite you to ask questions, get involved, and disabuse yourself of the notion that poetry is all too pretentious to bother with.

Hi Andrey, welcome to the site. Hope you get through your block. There's plenty of accessible, good poetry out there--hopefully you'll find some of it.

(08-15-2016, 10:11 AM)ellajam Wrote:  Try the Poems You Love thread in Poetry Discussion. If nothing there moves you maybe poetry is not for you and you can collaborate with a lyricist. ...

That's weird, because I purchased a copy of Poetry For Dummies, and it says that poetry is for everyone.

(08-15-2016, 01:10 PM)Leanne Wrote:  ... I'm going to invite you to ... disabuse yourself of the notion that poetry is all too pretentious to bother with.

Thank you. I really hope this will happen soon.

(08-15-2016, 05:10 PM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  That's weird, because I purchased a copy of Poetry For Dummies, and it says that poetry is for everyone.

No it's not.

yes, we're all dummies

welcome to the site. i can always find a song to love or hate, you'll always be able to do the same with poetry. [find a poem you love or hate]

Judging by all the things that I've read thus far, poetry seems to be a coin with two sides: it's either for me or it's not.

(08-15-2016, 02:16 PM)Todd Wrote:  Hi Andrey, welcome to the site. Hope you get through your block. There's plenty of accessible, good poetry out there--hopefully you'll find some of it.

For some reason I'm getting the feeling that it's not supposed to be accessible.

|

Alright, ... so, what am I supposed to do? Write my first poem, show it to you guys, and ask you whether I've exercised cryptography right or wrong?

(08-15-2016, 05:29 PM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  Judging by all the things that I've read thus far, poetry seems to be a coin with two sides: it's either for me or it's not.

(08-15-2016, 02:16 PM)Todd Wrote:  Hi Andrey, welcome to the site. Hope you get through your block. There's plenty of accessible, good poetry out there--hopefully you'll find some of it.

For some reason I'm getting the feeling that it's not supposed to be accessible.

|

Alright, ... so, what am I supposed to do? Write my first poem, show it to you guys, and ask you whether I've exercised cryptography right or wrong?

There should have been a welcome e-mail with instructions. You have to leave helpful feedback on at least three other poems before you can post any of your own. No one gets paid here, so everybody has to pitch in with the heavy lifting.

---

Actually, it's probably in your PM inbox. Sorry.

(08-15-2016, 05:29 PM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  Judging by all the things that I've read thus far, poetry seems to be a coin with two sides: it's either for me or it's not.

(08-15-2016, 02:16 PM)Todd Wrote:  Hi Andrey, welcome to the site. Hope you get through your block. There's plenty of accessible, good poetry out there--hopefully you'll find some of it.

For some reason I'm getting the feeling that it's not supposed to be accessible.

|

Alright, ... so, what am I supposed to do? Write my first poem, show it to you guys, and ask you whether I've exercised cryptography right or wrong?

Well, being either for me or it's not is everything in life. Write a few critiques for others than you'll gain the ability to post your first poem.

(08-15-2016, 05:10 PM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  

(08-15-2016, 10:11 AM)ellajam Wrote:  Try the Poems You Love thread in Poetry Discussion. If nothing there moves you maybe poetry is not for you and you can collaborate with a lyricist. ...

That's weird, because I purchased a copy of Poetry For Dummies, and it says that poetry is for everyone.

While I can't really imagine anyone reading that thread and not finding something that spoke to them, I have to leave open the possibility that there are people who take no joy in language and what it can express.
Even the people I know who have no interest in poetry will occasionally like one. I can't really wrap my head around the idea of a songwriter who can't appreciate a poem, who in fact thinks each and every one of them sucks. Just me, I don't get it.

Quote:Alright, ... so, what am I supposed to do? Write my first poem, show it to you guys, and ask you whether I've exercised cryptography right or wrong?

I'd suggest reading a whole lot of poems before attempting one. When you find something you like try to figure out why you like it and see if you can use some of the techniques. It also helps to have something you want to say. A link to a fun article on the basics can be found on the right side of our home page, Colin Ward's Poetry Tips. Also try reading the important threads of the workshops. I hope you find some fun in process, otherwise I'm not sure why you'd want to do it.

(08-15-2016, 09:57 AM)AndreyGaganov Wrote:  Hi,

I'm a 25-year-old songwriter currently experiencing a writer's block. I turned to poetry because I've recently discovered the concept of bibliotherapy (... Yes, at 25, ... I guess that's because Nevada public education sucks.). I'm hoping that somehow by magic ('cause that's how it works here in the real world, right?) poetry could solve my problems with finding my voice and writing melodies.

To be frank, so far all poetry seems to me like self-indulgent exercises in cryptography/cryptology/whatever, a triumph of style over substance, disdain for communication, treating the meaning of the poem as something subordinate. Please, prove me wrong. I just don't see anything galvanizing about it.

Thanks in advance,

- Andrey.

now, if that isn't the best attitude to have about poetry when joining a poetry forum, i just don't know what is.

Yeah all poetry sucks. I picked around that site until I saw this comment from a dozen different writers: "everything isn't what it seems." Sounds like an excuse for vagery! The pen is the place to be! Welcome

Hello all!

I'm a 15 year old high school student. I appreciate feedback of all kinds, and am excited to grow as a poet, and I'll try to log on every day. I'm working on this one poem now, but it's kinda hard :/ Is there a forum made to help me edit it? I'll be sure to post it whenever I finish, though! Lookin' forward to working with you!

~PK

(08-17-2016, 11:54 AM)PuppyKitten Wrote:  Hello all!

I'm a 15 year old high school student. I appreciate feedback of all kinds, and am excited to grow as a poet, and I'll try to log on every day. I'm working on this one poem now, but it's kinda hard :/ Is there a forum made to help me edit it? I'll be sure to post it whenever I finish, though! Lookin' forward to working with you!

~PK

Hi, welcome to the Pen >< >< ><

Hello pig penners! I feel as though I am coming back to you with my tail between my legs. I have been gone quite a while and not adding comments or feedback. I apologize, but you were missed! I'm Nikki mother of babies, maker of purple pancakes and the occasional
Maybe helpful comment?! Maybe?! Without too extended an explanation, I've been sick. But I find myself now in a place where I get to choose where I put my energy and what I spend my new found free time on and I genuinely hope that you will welcome me back. Creating some pieces that will help me pass a message to my loved ones when I'm gone, investing in my own sparse talent at times, I need your help! I will give feedback and ask only that you offer yours in return. Fingers crossed to be back. Thank you!

(08-27-2016, 07:30 PM)nikkisto Wrote:  Hello pig penners! I feel as though I am coming back to you with my tail between my legs. I have been gone quite a while and not adding comments or feedback. I apologize, but you were missed! I'm Nikki mother of babies, maker of purple pancakes and the occasional
Maybe helpful comment?! Maybe?! Without too extended an explanation, I've been sick. But I find myself now in a place where I get to choose where I put my energy and what I spend my new found free time on and I genuinely hope that you will welcome me back. Creating some pieces that will help me pass a message to my loved ones when I'm gone, investing in my own sparse talent at times, I need your help! I will give feedback and ask only that you offer yours in return. Fingers crossed to be back. Thank you!

Hi, welcome back!! I saw your crit before this and remebered your pancakes. So glad you popped in and I hope you enjoy spending time here, really happy to have you around.

Welcome back nikkisto; may your pancakes bless us all.

-------------------

And hello, my name is Ray and I'm a pigoholic.

I've been looking forward to rejoining the Pen and assisting it in its great
effort of endeavoring to persevere in proceeding and receding things apace.

And now, since my servitude to the gods of art is sort-of-finished or at least
procrastinated to the point of nonexistence, I need look forward no longer.
 
Happy day!  (At least for me.)
- Ray

Ray!!!!!
Yea, man!
Welcome back.