What is Poetry?
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
“something irreducible in poetry” ~ Michael Schmidt, The Story of Poetry, 11
Some love a certain murkiness in lines,
With paradox and oxymoron prized.
There out of focus mistiness defines
The genre. They require the verse baptized
In hard to fathom water. Follow hunch
And intuition and you get the point
In poetry like this. But some want punch
Of clarity, a mace that breaks a joint.
Still others want high-mindedness which sings
Of thoughts in realms and firmaments above.
These want the purest streams and air for wings
That soar to high ideals and cloudless love.
It’s something irreducible that can’t
Be trapped, some new or old truth at a slant.