I Hate Online Poetry Sites!

Published on January 26, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Misc

Some months ago, I wrote a poem that I put on this blog site. The poem was titled "Independence Day: A Requiem", and the truth is, I'm the least read poet on JoeUser, so I really don't know how it was. I've come to the conclusion that the consensus is my poetry sucks, so I don't even give it any effort anymore.

Anyway, I liked the piece, and that's what mattered. So I posted it to an online poetry site, both to reinforce the copyright and on the off, off chance that someone might find it substantial enough to actually pay me one of the prizes they offer (I can dream, can't I?).

Fast forward to this past week. I received the email that I knew from a few submissions to Poetry.com (I didn't submit it there because it exceeded their word length) would be forthcoming. The email that gushes about the quality of my work and offers to publish it in a poetry anthology.

Now, the truth is, I will probably purchase the anthology. I am proud of this piece even if noone else is, and I'd like to have a print copy of it. And if it sucks, well, it's just one more poem in an extensive buck full of poems, so it's not likely to be noticed. But it does raise an issue for me.

These poetry places are great for what they do, but I have to wonder if by praising every piece of poetry they aren't given false hope. Like the countless HORRID singers on American Idol who've been told all their lives how great they are only to embarass themselves badly on national TV, I have to wonder how many aspiring poets have been similarly embarassed by sites like these. They are great for giving an avenue for poets to express themselves, but it would be nice if they had a way to vette the garbage, to dump the truly banal, even if it's my work that ends up in the trash. The truth is, an honest critique will propel someone to improve their work if it means something to them, or to pursue other avenues if it does not.

I've shamefully copied/pasted the poen below just so that it gets one more once over. You don't need to tell me if it's not your style, but I WOULD like some input if you consider it to be truly, wretchedly terrible (Note: Not if you consider ME truly, wretchedly terrible; evaluate the poem on its OWN merits, please. Also, try to judge it on its merits, not on political agreements/disagreements). I'd rather hear it here than publish it only to hear someone else bash it:

She holds a cross in her left hand and a Bible in her right
And remembers the day that he went off to fight.
It was ten years ago to this very day
The air was still and silent and the sky was leaden gray.

She looked so proud, he looked his very best
So many handsome medals pinned upon his chest.
He said he's make her proud, then he turned and walked away
Left her standing with the bible that she holds in her hands today.

She watched the TV daily for the news of the fight
As they showed smoke trails by day and rocket flares by night
And the news stories crawled in their unfeeling way
Counting off the soldiers that had died upon that day.

And she watched the planes as they landed one by one
Knowing that each flag draped coffin was another mother's son
And she cried silent prayers as she knelt down to pray
Praying God would keep her own son safe through every day.

It was on some unknown battlefield where her son finally fell
She can't pronounce the name but she remembers it all too well
When the phone rang, she cringed, knowing what they'd have to say
And on that day she put her bible and rosary away.

Now the rosary's back in her left hand and the Bible in her right
As they send other mothers' sons away to fight another fight
She cries knowing too well the price they'll have to pay
And understands the meaning of Independence Day.

Comments

bakerstreet

on Jan 26, 2007

Online poetry sites always remind me of the old days, where you'd see these publishers that advertise "contests" in the back of magazines. They said they'd choose x number of poems to be printed in their anthology, but you found that they just published them all and sold them to the people who they printed solely.

They knew each person would buy one for mom and grandma, so they'd turn a profit without actually having to MARKET the poets. I don't see this as any different. They don't serve the poetry READERS, they're just there to get free content and serve the millions of aspiring poets themselves. What poets want is readers, though, not some sort of sewing circle.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 26, 2007

Yeah, it's a pretty old racket, actually. Like the "draw chucky the squirrel" ads that promised you a lucrative career as an artist.

That's why, while I'm not an "American idol" fan, I appreciate Simon Cowell. I think he's doing some of those folks a favor by telling them the harsh truth rather than kissing their posteriors. If they're any good, they'll likely use the criticism to work their butts off, and if they're not (the woman who sang the absolutely HORRIBLE portion of "Under Pressure", and was aghast because she'd had 10 years of training comes IMMEDIATELY to mind), then they had best give it up while they can still choose another career path.

SanChonino

on Jan 26, 2007

while I'm not an "American idol" fan, I appreciate Simon Cowell.

I only watch the first few episodes each season. I don't care for the "real singer" part, but I sure like to watch him be honest.

Maybe that's my enjoyment of Schadenfreude coming through again.

Buddah Moskowitz

on Jan 26, 2007

I liked your poem, especially since I am not a fan of verse. I think it's a fine poem, but I also remember some advice to poets that when something like this: be sure you know where you're submitting your work - if the journal (or book) is lousy and filled with junk, if they publish you, then you'll just be one of the lousy, junk-producing writers. I haven't tried to submit my poetry because I just haven't made the time, and I generally think what I write is too un-academic to be taken seriously as a writer. I have a loyal band of readers here on JU who have brought me tremendous validation by their reading, their comments and their general support. Heck, a few even bought my "publish on demand" book. I tell people, I received a royalty from PayPal of $11.01 but it felt like a million bucks to me.

Do not let anyone or anything stop you from writing. I think you have talent. I agree I hate online poetry sites too.

Moskowitz
ps - I watched American Idol and wondered who would subject themselves to that kind of potential insult. It's kind of funny, kind of sad, kind of like that movie "The King of Comedy".
It's the Rupert Pupkin show.

Mackintosh

on Jan 26, 2007

It's a nice poem mate, I liked it. Poetry however doesn't really resonate with me (even though I write my own), unless it touches something I've experienced. Most of my crap is in one way or another connected with my life (except for things I specifically mark as "fiction").

As far as poetry sites or go, I wouldn't have a clue, I've never submitted my things anywhere but here, and that accounts for at most 10% of what I've written over time. I write purely for myself, it's cool if someone else likes it, comments on it, and so on, but if anyone crazy enough to publish anything of mine ever approached me, I'd decline.

DrDonald

on Jan 26, 2007

I have trouble writing in this style, because when I do I always feel that the meter has to be as precise as possible, missing not a step, as in a march. Perhaps I'm wrong or just lazy.

I love your writing. I think your writing is compelling and passionate to the point that I can tell that this is a poem that has almost written itself. I would read more.

Zoologist03

on Jan 26, 2007

I like the poem...I think it's very good. Some people get pissy about rhyming and cadence...they say it subtracts from the poem...I believe that if you do it right, then it adds a lot to it. You, my friend, have done it well.

You've definitely got a good bit of talent...and while I know nothing about publishing, this would look very good in print...as long as you go for a decent company. There are people that print crap out there and it'd be a shame if this ended up in one of those.

Oh, by the way...is there a typo in this line? "He said he's make her proud, then he turned and walked away" I think you mean, "he'd" there...just pointing that out before you decide to get'er into print.

~Zoo

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 26, 2007

Actually, yeah, I think I caught it and corrected it in my submission, but I'd have to double check.

As for the rhyming and cadence, it's not "in vogue" right now, but it is pretty much time honored. Those who say it "detracts" are usually those who don't want to take the time to do it, unfortunately. I'm personally dismayed at the (not all unrhyming poetry is this, but some is) trend of chopping up crappy prose into bite sized bits and calling it poetry.

When I write poetry (which is rare), it's usually written as a lyric. This one is no exception, even though I haven't quite gotten the tune for it together.

Thanks for your kind words, zoologist. I'm hoping to get the music for this one together to play it next year at the Woody Guthrie festival.

Dr Guy

on Jan 26, 2007

The poem is pretty good. But like Dr. Donald, my poetry does not flow due to my obsession with the meter. So I am probably not a good judge.

DrDonald

on Jan 27, 2007

Thanks for the link lw. The site is both humbling and engaging.

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