Hard-to-Understand Poetry

[janicejan]

There are lots of cases wherein the author of the poem expresses himself through his poems or his writings and then when it was published and read by lots of people, each has their own speculations on the meaning of it, for me poems are expressions and there are no single meaning of each poetry, it mainly depends on your understanding on what you are reading.

[Anna Meyer]

I dont think that poems are written to be understood all the time but mostly for the writer to express and if a reader understands...it's maybe because the reader can relate with the poem...sometimes you might be able to relate other times not...or sometimes it might give you a glimpse of something important to somebody or some issue that needs to be highlighted...poems are seasons and expressions echoing...trying to find someone echoing back at times....sometimes not...some poems are only answered by silence....but its still expressing itself and is still out there. Poetry is mystical and powerful and each one has a reason for existing. Some ... just to be heard.

[kdtaylor27]

Listen, real poetry doesn't say anything; it just ticks off the possibilities. Opens all doors. You can walk through anyone that suits you.-Jim Morrison

In other words, poetry doesn't have to make sense, it just has to change the way you feel or see the world.

[anomalocaris]

I believe the purpose of language is to communicate. If readers are unable to understand what the poet is talking about, then the poet has failed to communicate. I've heard poets who take pride in the fact that their work is obscure. Apparently it makes them feel superior. I don't see it that way. If you have something to say, by all means, say it, and say it so that others can understand it. If you're incapable of saying things in a way that allows others to understand it, find another profession. And if you're just in love with the sound of your own voice, then keep a journal, and don't waste everyone else's time with it.

[Nathrad Sheare]

I, too, believe, anomalocaris, that poetry should be understandable. If nobody can get the point of your words, then why write them? The strangest poets, in my opinion, are the ones who write poems that they, themselves, admit they don't understand... What the hey?

[annareads]

I hate poems that are meant to be un-understandable. I guess it's sort of dadaist in a way, but it frustrates me. The only time I'm ok with impenetrable text is if it still manages to conjure an image or emotion. If I don't understand what's happening but I feel something, I'm more ok with it.

That being said, my preference will always go to understandable eloquence. You can use words and sound in cool ways without it becoming nonsense!

[kierypie1105]

I prefer poetry whose meaning doesn't jump out immediately and bash you over the head. The ambiguity of difficult poetry leaves more room for interpretation, allowing the reader to find his/her own meaning in the piece, allowing to to (at last in my opinion) connect to the soul on a deeper level.

[ipekbunsal]

I love it when you have to struggle to understand what the author is saying. everyone tries to understand in their own way

[Ryan]

Poems shouldn't necessarily be difficult, but at first they may not yield an interpretation. It ought to take time to read poetry because they're written in a different way to prose. Some poets make a point of being obscure because they think it makes their poems better, but whether that is the case or not the reader won't enjoy the poem if it fails to make even the slightest bit of sense. I recently read The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot and it is a very difficult poem. It takes time and patience to understand it, but when you do it's rather satisfying. It's because of that that I love reading poetry

[LivreAmour217]

I've always believed that poetry is highly subjective (and when I say poetry, I include songs, because often they are just poems with a beat!). Most people will read or listen to a poem that lacks a clear meaning and project their thoughts, ideas, and feelings onto the writer's message, assuming that he/she has one. If you do a google search of the meaning of any poem or song, you will find multiple interpretations. I think that this accounts for the popularity of poetry--unlike a book, the reader/listener can "stamp" a poem with his/her personality.

[rssllue]

Could you imagine trying to understand the poetry if some of the world's most well-known philosophers would have tried their hand at it? It would be mind-bending to say the least. I just Kant imagine it!

[Ryan]

Could you imagine trying to understand the poetry if some of the world's most well-known philosophers would have tried their hand at it? It would be mind-bending to say the least. I just Kant imagine it!

Haha! That's very Humerous

[rssllue]

Nice. Thanks. I was trying to be a free-thinker!

[WinterCandyMints]

It's okay.

[Tzara Drusak]

Poetry that is easily comprehensive isn't bad, just not overly interesting, although I wouldn't very much like to develop a migraine from stressing over the between-the-lines, around-the-hill meaning that is being transmitted. That being said, it's important to note that 'hard' can be widely interpreted across a range, and persons in a specific field would be drawn to something akin or surrounding their knowledge base. Something that falls in between 'hard' and 'easy' to understand is obviously a balance, but more preferable if it leans toward 'hard'.