A poem--whuzzat?

So many different kinds -image poems, idea poems, formal rhyme and meter pomes, breath poems, philosophical poems, metaphysical poems, rant, cries, prayers, lovepomes, prose poems, nature, political, eco-pomes, etc.,etc.

Yeah, yeah, but what makes it a poem? Impossible to give a simple definition; it's a family-resemblance concept. Compression of expression? (but what about Whitman); rhythmic tension, word/sound music? (but what about the ":language" poets?)

Can we rule anything out? Technical manuals? equations? test questions? cliched language (according to whom?)? But maybe not, what with interesting arrangement on the page or sufficient irony.

But why try to define it? You write it; you read it. You say if it's a pome for you. What do you think? Give examples. Talk to us.

#poetry #philosophical poetry#ecopoetry#prose poetry#formal poetry#informal poetry#breath poetry

Posted by Peter Schneider as inaugural blog for PB&J Books.