[Hilary Biehl]

If popularity were the goal we would be writing more like Billy Collins. There is a difference, in my opinion, between wanting one's poetry to have an effect on someone - the ideal reader, if you will - and wanting to be popular.

There are instances of art that have become canon infuriating large portions of their first audiences - Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is a famous example - or meeting with incomprehension. Van Gogh was not appreciated in his lifetime. Neither was Emily Dickinson.

Some contemporary artists put forth pieces that are intended merely to shock or infuriate the audience - which I think is cheap. On the other hand, I think we have to be willing to be true to our own vision even if it frustrates or alienates our audience at times. There is the ideal reader and there are the readers one actually has.

[Roger Slater]

It all comes down to the refrain of the Ricky Nelson song that Bob Dylan recently started covering in his concerts: Garden Party

[Nick McRae]

Originally Posted by Hilary Biehl

If popularity were the goal we would be writing more like Billy Collins. There is a difference, in my opinion, between wanting one's poetry to have an effect on someone - the ideal reader, if you will - and wanting to be popular.

There are instances of art that have become canon infuriating large portions of their first audiences - Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is a famous example - or meeting with incomprehension. Van Gogh was not appreciated in his lifetime. Neither was Emily Dickinson.

Some contemporary artists put forth pieces that are intended merely to shock or infuriate the audience - which I think is cheap. On the other hand.

I don't disagree, I don't think many poets aim to be popular. But if you think of all the lines and pieces that have resonated and survived the one thing they have in common is that they're strongly evocative. So I guess I'm only drawing a connection between (at least what I see) that people consuming art actually like and enjoy engaging with (art that moves them, even if the art doing the moving is niche and esoteric). But that's not a prescription of how a poet should write.

I think we have to be willing to be true to our own vision even if it frustrates or alienates our audience at times. There is the ideal reader and there are the readers one actually has.

I agree with this. Truthfully I've never really written for an audience, and after my experience trying to publish something I gave it up entirely. These days it's more along the lines of - how can I publish something and not embarrass myself if someone does happen to read it.

[Hilary Biehl]

Originally Posted by Nick McRae

But if you think of all the lines and pieces that have resonated and survived the one thing they have in common is that they're strongly evocative.

Of course. As you say, that's not necessarily prescriptive, as there are many ways to be evocative. Though I'd say the lines that stick in the popular imagination usually have a successful marriage of sound and meaning.

[Yves S L]

For fun! What is poetry?

(One of) Yves' definition: A piece of text is poetry to the extent that each syllable contributes to how much emotional information the text enfolds per word.

The trick is applying the definition to the reading and writing of poetry.