DK says:

I do like poetry but I don’t read much – largely because I have so many novels, history, biography etc that I have not yet read.

I prefer the free verse works.

My major source at the moment is therefore WP.

Frank says:

I find that the more sophisticated my pallet becomes, the more I need rhyme to assume a subtle role. My favorite saying is that rhyme should be invisible, while free verse should be a song.

As a free verse writer, myself, I am constantly in pursuit of the music that I think resides in our language. I believe our spoken word is actually us singing to each other.

I think we’re going to see that WP, or other blog sites are the primary source of access to poetry.

CW says:

I definitely consider myself a poetry reader from an early age as reading books was a terrific pastime growing up. 

Of course the required poetry in school was not always what I preferred but I still remember them. 

I don’t always agree with others’ interpretations of poetry. 

I take the words and form my own pictures with them. 

 I have found many interesting poets and forms of poetry here on WordPress.

CW

Frank says: 

I too was a voracious reader from an early age.

The poetry I remember, was the poetry of my schooling, when we would utilise an annual Reader, containing poetry and short stories that were considered notable at the time.

Of Australian poets, A B (the Banjo) Patterson and Henry Lawson stand out.

(I commend Clancy of the Overflow by Patterson, and The Drover’s Wife, a short story by Lawson to you, and another time might engage in pulling apart Clancy, and reassembling it in my own style to emphasise the way I believe it should be read).

Of other poetry from childhood, does anyone remember this:

slowly silently now the moon/walks the night in her silver shoon/this way and that she peers and sees/silver fruit upon silver trees . . .

Silver, by Walter de la Mare. I have never forgotten it.

CW creates her own imagery from the words. Such a powerful poetic gift.

Anon says:

Yes, I read poetry, but not a lot.

In the case of anything worth reading, the first line or two has to catch me, and I’ll follow the trail. I use poetry, rather than write it.

What for? To inspire the inner beats within, to find a breath that matches the mood, to dance the words into meaning.

It matters not whence it comes, it comes …

I like poetry that has a depth, that isn’t maudlin or rambling, and that connects a deep emotion in few words.

Poetry inspires me, my muse, my music and my sense of self.

Frank says:

Seduction by opening line. So important in writing.

And when engaged, the poem can inspire yet other work of creativity (I know Anon to be a published writer). A musical creativity, if I read between the lines correctly.

An ability to engage the emotions of a reader and to inspire, as a consequence.

Thank you, Anon.

Victoria Ray’s discussion

Frank says:

For the most part, I encourage you to visit Victoria’s blog and her post on this topic. Take a look at the train of comments, as I think it is informative.

I must mention, though, the form known as ‘Cowboy Poetry’ which was referred to by Tom Darby, who mentioned the poem Lasca by Frank Desprez.

I found this very interesting as it reminds me immediately of cowboy songs I first heard in the old American cowboy movies, but also because I see an immediate parallel with what is known in Australia as Bush Poetry  – full of galloping rhyme and charateristic rhythms. Originally the style of Patterson and Lawson et al, but carried on to this day.

Sandra says:

No, not really, although I love to read words that are cleverly or beautifully put together.

I read the book by Kurdish refugee Behrouz Boochani called “No friend but the Mountains”, and liked his use of poetry to tell the story.

I enjoyed reading poetry when I was at school and at Uni. (Particularly liked Gerard Manly Hopkins).

I really don’t know why I haven’t  read it anymore, maybe because it is not readily available, and I don’t think to seek it out.

Frank says:

I agree that beautiful structure is important, though I don’t always know how to achieve that.

A thing that I harp on is that there is music in the language that we speak. Inflections and nuance, emphasis and pause and so on.

Finding the rhythm of speech is also finding its beauty.

I wonder if changes in poetry fashion have made it less relevant to and within people’s lives.

It does feel like part of the task for someone like myself: to make the verse we write meaningful to people who are flat out just trying to live their own lives.