Word usage in poetry

[wasellajam]

I thought the "Modernist Movement" was discussing it before us. So, milo, where do you stand?

I think as a writer, I should question my own intent for every word.  Sometimes, I know I get lazy and say "that word is for meter, dunce".  I don't think that is a good answer.  I think line breaks should, ideally, land on important words or at least used to good effect.

I think poets have a tendency to like to describe pretty or interesting things because they are pretty or interesting.  The modernists wouldn't like that. I tend to side more with the modernists though I can certainly be silly in my own writing and a pun or a joke excuses everything.

I do think there is value in examining what we've written to see if it could be better.  Word usage is one way.  I also think that if an image is planted in a poem for no reason other than it is interesting or pretty and unrelated to the central metaphor than it is a re herring. That can lose the trust of your readers.

I think Quix did a great job analyzing the WCW plum poem.  No wasted words or thoughts.  Everything doing double duty.  If there is extraneous verse in there it would lead her astray.

I am rambling.  As a reader, I question everything a writer did.  Think of that WCW poem - you really needed to read into it to get everything.  If there are a lot of disconnected images I question the writers' intent.  I will usually call that out.

Thanks for the discussion

Can you link to the Plum thread? Can't find it.