Why are poets and poetry not revered in the United States as they are in other countries?

2016-11-12T21:37:47-05:00

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 12 at 2016 9:50 PM

2016-11-12T21:50:54-05:00

they Cant handle Culture...

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 13 at 2016 12:19 AM

2016-11-13T00:19:35-05:00

Who says they're not revered in the US? A good songwriter can make a very good living

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 12:30 AM

2016-11-13T00:30:34-05:00

The only American I know of who could truly be called a great poet was Robert Frost. If we had more like him, I believe Americans would appreciate this art form a lot better. T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound (both good poets) were only American by birth, and their poetry fits their adopted countries rather than ours. Have you read the crap written by America's Poets Laureate in the past few decades? The verbal equivalent of one of those paintings which consists of sploches of color smeared across a canvas.

Response by PO2 Sybil "TT" I. made Nov 13 at 2016 1:56 AM

2016-11-13T01:56:11-05:00

Without writing a full paper on it, I'll just suggest it probably has something to do with its culture in general as the U.S. being rather young in comparison to other countries, not as connected to the past as others, and just overall unique in it's development...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 13 at 2016 3:58 AM

2016-11-13T03:58:03-05:00

Hopefully We Will Get There Someday.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 13 at 2016 5:37 AM

2016-11-13T05:37:21-05:00

I think it was more so before TV. We as a culture enjoy instant gratification, and poetry as I believe you mean it requires a certain amount of thought.. To understand the meaning behind the poem. We want to turn on the TV or radio and not think about anything.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Nov 13 at 2016 7:34 AM

2016-11-13T07:34:09-05:00

Lines from a poem I wrote one time- to children:
"Godly best, when put to the test....
Theories and queries come morning's rest."
Hope this helps, SGT Private RallyPoint Member.
-Good Morning to You!
-Margaret

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Nov 13 at 2016 8:29 AM

2016-11-13T08:29:58-05:00

I enjoy poetry more now as a mature retired adult. It takes time, thought and education to read and digest the essence of a poem. Something in it sticks to you, resonates and brings you back. Music is poetry, but true rhyme has a reason without music. It does take a different form of consumption. It isn't in your face immediate, so the instant gratification my not be there.

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Nov 13 at 2016 8:34 AM

2016-11-13T08:34:23-05:00

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/langston_hughes/poems/16944

Let America Be America Again - Poem by Langston Hughes

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes - Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home wh

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Nov 13 at 2016 10:46 AM

2016-11-13T10:46:43-05:00

We over romanticize how much other nations revere poetry. The same 2% of the population of England loves poetry just like the same 2% of the US. This is just my opinion but I've never seen evidence to the contrary. Have you?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 13 at 2016 11:10 AM

2016-11-13T11:10:38-05:00

Limericks are a cherished part of the Navy, especially the saltier ones. And songs too like "Barnacle Bill". "Who's that knocking at my door?...." Now I can't get it out of my mind.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 13 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-11-13T12:39:44-05:00

I think that's only recently true, David. Aka: Millennials, who don't seem to revere anything. My education included poets and poetry.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Nov 13 at 2016 1:11 PM

2016-11-13T13:11:27-05:00

Poetry is cool, but does NOT pay the mortgage or put food on the table.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 8:13 PM

2016-11-13T20:13:37-05:00

My mom and one brother write poetry to express themselves. My mom required us to read poetry when I was growing up. I never took to any of it except for Robert W. Service. I wish I could write like him!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-11-13T20:18:33-05:00

One point that was already brought out is that the US is hardly one culture, it's a swirly of many cultures. Poetry doesn't cross culture well, I don't think. Much like music. Only the creme-de-creme will.
Otherwise I think that unfortunately much of our culture is too shallow to appreciate it. One other problem is the quality of the poetry that does get published. I frequently listen to Garrsion Keilor's program on public radio. I always enjoy it, but often think to myself after I've heard the poetry choice for the day, "I could write that any day." I just can't count it poetry any more than I can count the crap getting recorded today as country music.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 16 at 2016 2:37 AM

2016-11-16T02:37:37-05:00

My Children were brought up on Poe and A. A. Milne. I was brought up on A. A. Milne, Shakespeare and Aesop's Fables.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2017 12:02 PM

2017-03-17T12:02:09-04:00

Maybe we don't hear a lot about poetry or poets in the news, but there are those of us who follow poetry with a passion. The articles I see publicized most often have unfortunate titles like "Is Poetry Dead". To many of us poetry is not dead! We have a U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress (full title), several states have State Poet Laureates, some cities even have Poet Laureates as volunteers. I believe we should revere poetry, literature, and the arts more than sports, but that's just me. Each to their own.