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Criticisms of Poetry
Metaphor- Often misused by 'poets' in an attempt to
appear 'deep and meaningful'. Metaphors are designed to have
a secondary meaning which is not always obvious, and a poorly
written metaphor will make no sense in context or will have so
many alternate interpretations that it looses its effect. Metaphors
are only effective if they are extremely well written.
Rhyme- It is tempting, in a rhyming poem, to fit the
verse to the rhyme and not vice versa. When this happens it unfortunately
becomes imediately apparant to even the novice reader, and makes
the poem seem either strained or nonsense.
Free Verse- Often used by 'poets' who failed at rhyme.
Free verse is exactly what it says, essentially a free for all
with absolutely no rules. This has an analogy in art forms, most
clearly shown in the DADA movement of nonsensical art. Free verse
can work, but on rare occasions and mostly by experienced or
talented poets, otherwise by mistake.
Simile- Generally overided by cliched analogies, similes
get very dry very quickly. Also they tend to be overused by 'poets'
who failed at succesful metaphors.
Adjectives- Used by amateur 'poets' solely to show
off. Poems comprised of strings of adjectives make little sense
but superficially appear to have very deep meanings and sometimes
would even like to have us believe the author is actually talented.
This is very rarely the case, as adjectives make good stories
but shocking poems.
Thesaurus- The bible of people who are in love with
adjectives. Instead of writing inspirational poems from the soul
or the heart (or god forbid the mind), they give a list of interesting
and unusual words they found in the thesaurus. These people pride
themselves in their skill at opening random pages of the book
and taking all of three seconds to choose a long word no one
will have heard of.
Haiku- An oriental form of poetry adopted and crucified
by the westerm poetic world. Often the first form of poetry learned
in primary school, as it involves only three lines, haikus are
actually one of the hardest style of poems to master. Westerners
find them appealing as they seem quick and easy and as a result
the vast majority of haikus are absolute rubbish.
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