I’m gonna throw it out there right off the bat: I don’t like poetry, it’s never been my thing. Surely, there must be a reason. I’ve never been a fan of reading in general, but I like stories and I like music. Music is poetry, right? And poetry tells a story, so why do I dislike it?
I feel like the abstract and “higher” language used in modern poetry is not only cliche, but also done for the sole purpose of making the poem seem more artsy or something. This is a stretch and might seem condescending towards poets, and isn’t the case all the time, but this is how I feel. “To Brooklyn Bridge” by Hart Crane was very difficult to read due to it’s ‘artistic’ language. On the other hand, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” was straight forward, the language was simpler, and overall more engaging and understandable. The English language is indeed an art form, and you have to acknowledge that, but it’s for this very reason that I don’t like poetry. As much as I appreciate it, I simply can’t bring myself to like it.
