This is the Lit nerd part of me speaking:
I just bought a new poetry book (Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong) and I’ve been thinking a lot to myself about what (for me) makes a “good poem”. I’ve seen people say that poetry represents some form of stability or nostalgia, words that can remind one of their past and things they miss. As much as I can understand this point of view and somewhat agree with it, this new poetry book created a whole different perspective for me.
For me, beautiful poetry is ephemeral, transient, something which may be understood for a fleeting second and then lost again. Good poetry is the poetry you would spend hours, days, thinking about, trying to find that different viewpoint that helps you to see the deepest meanings of the poem.
I also think it’s important to recognise that a poem which you can’t understand, which doesn’t click with you, isn’t necessarily a “bad” poem, but a poem you haven’t looked at in enough ways with enough motivation or enough belief.
This was just a rant but let me know what makes a good poem for you?
