Poetry and Popular Culture

Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it too cryptic, scholarly? If you ask a large group of average people what they like or don't like about poetry, you'll get a few different answers, but there is an overwhelmingly common category of responses.

One of the main reasons that people say they aren't addicted to contemporary poetry is that they feel it is too cryptic. The language, they say, isn't tangible. Despite the fact that there are a great many contemporary poets out there writing and performing poetry that appeals to the non-cryptic taste of many would-be enthusiasts, this poetry isn't highly visible in the popular media.

The second reason that some people say they aren't interested in poetry is that their idea of poetry is based on the old classical stuff they were forced to read in high school. Who can relate to 'thee' and 'thou?' People feel that poetry is an abstract language that has very little relevancy to the modern world.

So, what is out there, and why don't people bother with it? The answer is that, for a very long time, poetry has been seen as a literary playground directed toward other players. Publishers recognize that poetry doesn't sell very well, and so, they are apprehensive about publishing a great many books of poetry. The problem, though, is that while there may or may not be a market for poetry, no one really knows for sure. In short, no one is making an effort to shove it into mainstream media.

Perhaps if people knew the kinds of poems being talked about in the literary circle by poets such as Ted Kooser, Louise Gluck, or many of the other poets (yes, there are poets who are still living, thank you), then maybe the people would be a little more apt to purchase a book or two of poetry.

What Can You Do to Help Popularize Poetry?

  • You can offer to subscribe to contemporary poetry journals for a local high school. Remember, one of the reasons people don't drool over poetry is that they haven't been exposed to what's available.

  • You can start an open mic poetry reading at your local bookstore or library.

  • Volunteer at a local school to help students write and publish their own literary journal.

  • Donate poetry books by contemporary poets to your library or school.

  • BUY SOME POETRY!! If you love to write poetry, one of the best ways to develop your skills (and even find markets for your poetry), is to buy and read poetry by other conemporary poets. When you buy a book of poetry, you are contributing to the market. The more people go out and buy books of poetry, the more popular the market will become.

  • Start a local writer's group, and make a point to discuss some of the works by conemporary poets.

  • Start a literary journal, and emphasize works by poets that would appeal to a general audience, rather than only to other poets.

    • Devrie Paradowski is a freelance writer and poet. She is serious about getting poetry into popular culture. She recently published a book of poetry, "A Ray Squeezed Through," in an effort to promote her new literary journal, "LE Quarterly." Her book can be found on Amazon.com, and at http://www.Lulu.com/devrie . Visit the literary journal at http://www.literaryescape.com/journal

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Writing Innovative Poetry

    Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary... Read More

    Birthday Messages

    I WANTED TO SAY IT WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS... Read More

    Poetry in a Nutshell

    Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is... Read More

    Four Poems: Grendels Nature...the Racetrack...Counting days...[Now in English and Spanish]

    English Version1) Grendel's DivorceYou must know that I do not... Read More

    Learn About Love From Poet Rumi

    Learn about love by reading poetry by a long dead... Read More

    My hero, my best friend, my Grannio (a.k.a my Grandmother)

    She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More

    Become A Poet In Ten Minutes

    Have you ever sat there staring at the paper, ready... Read More

    Savage Nature: The Life of Ted Hughes

    One of the most important poets of the post-war period,... Read More

    Three Sweet Poems, and Two Not So Sweet [now in: SPANISH and English]

    1) End PoemWherever you are today- Is where you were... Read More

    A Different Place...

    I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More

    Lord Byrons She Walks in Beauty

    Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More

    Five Mixed Poems, with Notes [now is Spanish and English]

    1.Night in Jamaica [Peruvianism: 1810]It was a rainy night... Read More

    A Ship to Remember

    Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More

    Ive Learned

    You cannot make someone love you. All you can do... Read More

    Here And There

    My eyes opened. I am still alive; Living on... Read More

    Looking Out the Rear Window

    The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More

    Burning Autumn Leaves [a poem in Spanish and English]

    Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More

    Arizona Blue--Gunfighter: The Wolves Nest [Chapter One of Seven: The North]

    [Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More

    The King and Delka & Moiromma: the Cold Planet [Parts 25 and 26]

    #25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More

    A Hundred and Fifty Dead [Korean War--l952]

    There I sat, ninety-five degree weatherOutside; the bookstore café, was... Read More

    Breathing-in, Minnesota [a poem: now in Spanish and English]

    In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls, In... Read More

    The Merchant of Copan [In English and Spanish]

    English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More

    THe Monster Mash, A Graveyard SMASH (short story I wrote when I was 11)

    The Monster Mash The Graveyard SmashHave you heard of the... Read More

    Article on Poetry and Two Poems

    Writing Poetry for TomorrowWhat does a man need to be... Read More

    Contract of Death [Now: in SPANISH and English]

    Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More

    Ambiguity and Abstraction in Bob Dylan?s Lyrics

    To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason... Read More

    Shakespeares Sonnet XVIII, Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day?

    Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More

    The Cat

    Truth is stranger than fiction according to many people who... Read More

    Exalted Poetry; Two poem [and commentary]

    Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More

    Barriers

    There are many times I set up barriers and walls,... Read More

    Find the Magic

    FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More

    Tale of the: Old Hunter and the Golden Hare [In SPANISH and English now]

    There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More

    Ballade of an Inca King

    Ah! Leave the gold, wealth and landSays the Inca King?;... Read More