There may be a few of us who are more well-"versed" in poetry than I am, but if the poet is willing to hear how the poem grabbed me or brought me back or made me think or made me hum, I am willing to say I was able to read it to the end with pleasure, or not. If a poem just confuses me or sounds cacophanous, I might mention that, (or possibly I may choose to keep my big mouth shut - depends). The poet may need to to know if a casual reader will respond to it in some way, even read it to the end and not toss it aside.

I am sorry I can't do better than that, but as long as our potential poets realize my limitations, I'll do my best.

Thanks, Westerly. This is helpful. Eager to see how others respond.

Hi,

I think (providing the author wishes a critique) that poetry can be critiqued in the same way as any other art. Certainly the emotional response is a critical issue - but one can also ask material questions. How is the poem structured? Does the rhythm fit the subject? Does word choice coalesce into stimulating or evocative images? Is the subject interesting? Does the poet avoid trite ideas and word choices? Who is the audience for the poem and does the poem reach that audience? Can the poem be strengthened by considering the genre and the audience? Are there recurring patterns, motifs, rhythms, that give the poem interest? Just as in visual art, interest is a result of repeated motifs, rhythms, contrasts in tone and color, poetry offers many of the same opportunities. (Just a few off the cuff thoughts on the topic to get us started.)

Thanks, WS. Be warned: having offered such a cogent response you may be tapped to head our Poetry Feedback Fridays.

- akabukowski

I write prose, humor and expository copy, but am interested and intrigued by poetry. All I can offer a poet is an observation about my emotions or thoughts upon reading a poem. It's been so many years since I studied poetry, I don't know blank verse from Iambic pentameter.

I suspect I'm not alone in my limitations with poetry. Maybe there should be a separate group for poets.

There are rules for poetry, even for stream of consciousness. Those poems with the frequent breaks are supposed to have each piece (whether one word or three) complete an image or a thought. They are also supposed to be fairly short since long ones are hard to 'scan' (read with the eyes.)

I used to participate in poetry slams on the old Prairie Home Companion board as our resident poet (who was till taking instruction) would post a type and the rules (be they meter or form or tone) and following the form was as important as creating a link between poet and reader.

For a lot of folks who write poems, there is a very deep, personal affection for their words than even that of the prose fiction writer. Many poets wrench their souls writing their stuff and critiques can feel extraordinarily personal, even when they are not.

Even professional poets - and poetry translators - get it wrong. I remember hearing an interview on Fresh Air with a person who translates haiku. The rule for haiku is 5-7-5 with each line having its own life as an image and all three lines together moving an image from one state to another yet the translator gave two examples where the only thing of haiku he obeyed was that it had seventeen syllables. Haiku translation is doubly tough - you are translating from a tonal language to a gutteral one (Japanese to English) and the beat break is often very hard to match to the sentiment. I would think translating an American haiku to Japanese would be virtually miraculous.

You can't be thin skinned and submit poetry for critique. The line between drivel and art is thin. Personally, I think a lot of Frost is sentimental drivel.

Poor Frost. He was a man from another time. I always liked his cadences, and a few of those metaphores, "mending fences" and swinging birches were okay. But they were mighty simple, and there was no missing them.My husband always distained poor Frost, but sometimes the simplest things do make good poetry, like "zero at the bone," and "it wrinkled and was gone." (Of course, that's not Frost, but dear hubby won't hail Emily either).

Of the Americans, I want to re-read Walt Whitman. I don't have a copy.I used to love him when I was young and want to see if I still do.