Which is more important?

[Simatong]

I'm curious. If you just shrug off critiques, why would you post on a forum like this which is critique and editing driven?

I'm curious as to what others may think of my work, but at the end of the day, I just read the criticism and go on with my day. I take both types of criticisms (positive and negative) with a grain of salt, thank those who commented for their time, and move on. What else can I do?

Hello Simatong,

I think you miss a great opportunity to learn by just shrugging off critique! It's always valuable to try out ideas by others, you can always reject them afterwards. But by experimenting with ideas by others you usually come up with new ideas of yourself as well.

I don't think a poem is less "from the heart" when we use our brain as well by the way. I feel that our job is to make the reader feel something, not to necessarily revel in our own feelings. And achieving that is in large part also a cerebral craft.

I agree that it can be a cerebral craft, but be it cerebral or emotive, it is still an extremely subjective thing. Already, I have written works that have gotten praise and scathing reviews on this forum. Some say they like the message behind the words, while others call it cliched. Two different people with differing views on one piece. Indeed, what sounds cliche to one might seem beautiful to another. Poetry is such a subjective thing that, even when taking in both positive and negative feedback, I find it best to analyze the analysis I receive, thank the person for their time, and then move on, seeing what else inspires me and what else can be seen in another's artistry. Anything other than that and I feel I would either become lost or turn my poetry in to something that reflects the work of another instead of what lies in my heart, and if a poet loses his own voice to the noise of the crowd, what does that say of his craft other than that it no longer exists as something individual?