[Maryann Corbett]

Originally Posted by Elise Hempel

What's the point of entering a workshop if you think your poem is already perfect and you're just going to dismiss everything the teachers say?

It's telling that you use the word "teacher." In some cases it's correct; the person posting is inexperienced and looking for instruction. But in other cases, the person posting wants the reaction of peers.

In those cases, it's perfectly reasonable to reply, politely, that a critic has misunderstood. A poem may use specific terms that are meaningful to a narrow audience; if a reader doesn't belong to that audience, that reader will misread. The poet might eventually decide to aim the poem less narrowly. Or not.

And there are other points to posting. One is to say to the world "I'm still working." That might be the case for an experienced poet who's been quiet for a while. As long as the poems are unpublished and the poet offers crits to others, this is legit.

Another is to resolve doubts about whether anybody will understand. If nobody understands, it isn't wrong to reply "This is what I was attempting," and leave it there, waiting to make a private decision about whether to trash the poem or revise it.

It's tempting to believe the critiques we give are the ultimate wisdom and to want to see them followed. I think we have to resist the temptation. I think we have to be wise enough to just offer our thoughts and move on.