Oct 04 2008
Poetry Trends
This is the time of year when my “annual bible” is published. For poets, Poet’s Market is the most comprehensive market listing in the world. At over 500 pages it is packed with markets, contests, resources and how to’s. I read it from cover to cover and examine each market. What I have found during the years is that the traditional styles of poetry- the sestinas, pindaric odes, iambic pentameters etc… are shunned by the poetry community. I would say that less than 5% of listed markets accept traditional styles. In fact for some, I won’t name names, iambic pentameter is a four letter word.
I find this curious and here’s why. If you think about it, every song you here whether it be pop, rock, country, rap or songs from the Great American songbook, they all have one thing in common - traditional poetry, meter and rhyme. If it weren’t for the iambic pentameter and other styles, it would be difficult to find any good songs out there. So why is the poetry community so against these styles?
When I began writing over 35 years ago I wrote strictly meter and rhyme. I now write free verse not because it pays but because it comes much easier to me. I still however revere and enjoy the traditionalists. It is a very difficult task to write meter and rhyme in a hip evocative style with pure imagery and imagination but it can be done. Songwriters do it everyday and are recognized and respected for their talents. So, I guess my question is why not the poet? I have many poet friends who employ traditional styles in their writing and they are some of the most talented poets out there today.I suggest to all these markets who do not look favorably upon the iambic pentameter stanzas to go back in time and do some reading. The 19th Century traditionalists is a good place to start.
My honest opinion…
Modern era poets, at least the ones that I know, have a fascination with the Beats, as well as the avant garde poets of the late ’60’s, so much so that they set the low end of the bar with them, and spend a lifetime trying to out do both one another, and the poets they idolize.
Believe me, I’m all for experimentation, but I’m also the son and grandson of English teachers, so I appreciate the traditional forms as well.
That’s a good point. I’ve never been a big fan of the beat poets. I grew up reading Longfellow, Poe, Keats, Marlowe etc… so I truly do respect and love the traditionalists. Thanks for your comment.
My studies and interests are situated rather firmly in the English Renaissance, so for obvious reasons I idolize iambic pentameter! Admittedly I have strong positive feelings for Pound, Eliot, and even some of those crazy beat poets as well, but there is something about highly structured and constrained poetic forms that can’t be bested.
Having a deplorable lack of knowledge about contemporary poets (even in the Renaissance I lean more towards drama) I’d love to know of any contemporary poets you’d recommend who know their way around a sonnet or a sestina. They must be in the minority based on your statistics, but that’s something I’d love to read.