Freedom of expression in Poetry.

[milo]

This boring complaint comes up time and again. Most people don't like poetry, and we're to blame because we're too smart.

I don't know my ass from a whole in the ground, but because I am capable of understanding metaphor, and know what an iamb is, I'm suddenly somehow a pretentious elitist.

People like what they like, and the simple truth is that other forms of media are easier to market.

You can't argue that more people admire paintings than watch movies or television. Is that because painters aren't painting things that viewers like to look at?

I'm not one to push poetry on the masses--to each his own, I say--but if there really is a trick to making everyone like or want to buy my poems, I'd sure like to hear it!

It really does come up a lot. It isn't that people don't enjoy poetry, btw it is that there is no way to monetize poetry which keeps the promotion away. Coca-cola has no interest in poetry. Poems are short and easily copied.

Here is the most recent example of this tedious discussion:
http://www.pigpenpoetry.com/showthread.php?tid=12853

Please attempt not to repeat the whole thread verbatim.