Experimental Poetry

Poetry is not merely words on a page or a collection of stanzas. They aren’t just words that can rhyme or metaphors. The meaning of a poem is as important to the poet as much as it is important to the reader. Poetry is not simply a piece of knowledge or wisdom or philosophy but also a cathartic means for which the poet can express him or herself. I feel that poetry is a part of its creator, an additional limb or heart.

If poetry is as enjoyable to the poet as it is to the reader than I believe the poet has the freedom to make the poem reflect the emotions, thoughts, and philosophy of the poet. Not always can we as people convey ideas and experiences in someone else’s structure. If poetry is art, the artist has the right to do whatever they feel is necessary to make that piece of art beautiful to experience catharsis and to share that with the world. What may be art can vary from viewer to viewer and from artist to artist and it is also their right to their own opinion. What may invoke emotion may be different from person to person but that doesn’t lessen the piece of art.

Experimental poetry, despite what some may say, is an art form. It is an art form for different poets as well as different readers, and it invokes emotion just like other poetry but in different ways. That doesn’t make it a lesser kind of poetry. Perhaps for some critics it may not make some cry or others happy, but is it fair to say this is the case for everyone? Can a handful of critics speak for all readers of poetry? What these poets have to convey is just as profound as a piece from Shakespeare. There are different words and different structures but these are what separate these poets from others and also what makes them true artists.

Samantha Audet