How to review poetry!

Poems are different from stories in that they contain lots of unusual images and metaphors, however only to the untrained eye do poems appear to be "always good". This is a guide to those who wish to improve their ability at reviewing poems. This is my personal guide, that being said some people may disagree with some things written here, but I tried to write it so that everyone would be able to improve the quality of their reviews. Please check it out.

Here are the aspects of poems that I look at, in no particular order:

1. Images used.
Are the images fitting to the topic being discussed? For example, and this is an extreme example, vomit is not a fitting image in a poem about flowers. Look for any images that seem out of place, outlandish, etc. Then decide whether they add or detract from the work, and give your honest opinion.

2. Use of repetition.
First of all, determine if there is ANY repetition, then decide whether it works well, is not used enough, or is used too much. Give your honest opinion to the writer.

3. Structure
How is the poem formed? Is there a verse structure or are the lines all globbed together? By separating poetry into verses (strict poetry) or paragraphs (prose poetry), you make it easier to read and navigate. If you find the way the poem is structured bothersome to you, point it out and suggest they break it up a little. At times people will create poetry where different "voices" speak from the left side of the page, or the right side of the page. This means some of their lines will be on different sides of the screen. Be careful not to criticize them, as that is a style of poetry in itself. However, give your honest opinion of how it worked.

4. Line Length
This is a simple one: Sometimes people have what should be two lines in poetry ONE line, and sometimes they have what should be one line two, three, or four lines. Be sure to suggest a change if you feel the poem would flow better by merging or splitting lines.

5. Pausing
I always look for how pauses work. A pause can be implemented by line break, comma, semicolon, dash, etc. Look for these, and determine if they broke up the flow of the poem OR if they added to the poem by creating a dramatic effect. Also, look for anywhere where in the poem where two thoughts seemed to run together, and suggest a pause in these places. The writer will find this extremely helpful.

6. Rhyme
Determine whether the author uses rhymes or not. If they DO use rhymes, try to find the pattern they are using and point out anywhere where the words they use DO NOT rhyme. Also, look for places where they obviously changed the line around in order to rhyme a certain word, and tell them if the rest of the line suffered because of this. If they DON'T use rhymes, it's probably deliberate, and mentioning their abscence may irritate the writer.

7. Rhythm
As you read the poem, look for places where the flow of the poem changes, getting faster or slower. Try to determine whether the poem would be more enjoyable to you if there were more pauses (slower rhythm), or less pauses (faster rhythm) and WHERE in particular you feel they should do this. The author will appreciate your input.

8. Grammar/Sentence Structure
There is a common misconception that poetry is exempt from grammatical rules. This is NOT true. Poetry should still make sense grammatically, if it doesn't the reader will have to interrupt his reading to figure out how the line would read if it were proper English. While changing the grammatical structure may allow the author to rhyme certain words, or shorten/lengthen a line, it makes the reading suffer because the reader has to decipher it. Please point these lines that use "improper English grammar", and suggest how they can write the same line using "proper English grammar", thereby allowing the reader to immediately understand the line.

Author's Note

It's been a while since I made this, but it still has many good points. I'll revise it eventually.

Reviews

[Gary H]

Some great points here and thanks for writing this. I've been spending a great deal of time reading work recently and am obviously very aware of what you are saying. I would love constructive critisism on my work especially if it enables me to write better things. Personally I think if you are going to go to a writers site there should be some kind of accurate review format. As there isn't I sadly go along with the flow unless I know the person well enough to suggest things to them. Maybe that it the ideal, sending a message to the person first then depending on the response making an appropriate comment. Yours is not the only comment I have read on this subject tonight. Thanks.

[Francis Myerick]

I think all in all, your analysis of the how-to is good, but there are points I must dispute.

"Poems are different from stories in that they contain lots of unusual images and metaphors." This is false. A story is really just any telling of events whether it's written, verbal, prose, poem. A poem can be a story. I think the word to use here is "prose" but I also disagree with the second half. Prose or "stories" contain unusual images and metaphors. This is more content, and the distinction between poetry and prose is not based on content, but form.

"For example, and this is an extreme example, vomit is not a fitting image in a poem about flowers." I think you should take out this sentence. I know that you mean the writer shouldn't use irrelevent images, but vomit might be a perfectly fitting image in a poem about flowers. Metaphysical poetry utilizes images that contrast with the widely accepted perception of the content: I want G-d to rape me. Love is a flesh eating monster. Anything Donne wrote.

Your interpretation of rhythm seemed more like an explanation of pacing. The two are closely related, but rhythm is more small-scale (lines), and pacing is the overall effect (speeding up, slowing down.)

I'm completely throwing out your last point. Propriety aside, the point of language is to communicate an idea, and if throwing out grammatical rules better communicates that idea, who are we to say "I think this needs a comma." Poetry ought to be readable. Mark Twain used improper English (of couse it was intentional.) I would probably re-write this more to indicate errors that seem unintentional or parts which would openly benefit from stronger writing, active voice, for example. These are the only times I would make grammatical corrections.


But really, I thought all of the points I didn't comment on (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) were nicely done.

[Dave]

yes...I like a lot of what you said...but it brings a question to mind...How to review Articles on Writing? Everyone has tips to review stories and poetry...but just how does one review an article?Well...allow me to try, if you dont mind...In the first line...I dont know if this was intentional or not, but it just seems 'lots' would be better if substituted with "a lot". Maybe add a comma after however to help signify a slight pause in that part of the sentence. Ya know? To get the reader to pause a moment and say to themselves..."This is looking heavy...I better get my thinking cap on."There are a few instances such as that and other things along the write like that, and I really don't feel like pointing each and every one of them out right now. I really liked how you clearly stated that these are aspects that YOU look for in poems before you went into the list of reasons and why. Writes like these demand to clarify to the reader that these are the readers own thoughts and ideas and they are not trying to FORCE them on the reader, but merely act as a possible tool. Very well done and very well stated.It could possibly have ended a little better. Perhaps something that would help calm the mind of the reader down after such a flood of information. It was like riding in a car at high speed and then BAM! hitting an immovable object...it just stopped.Anyway, those are just some of the things I see in your article.Thanks for sharing.

[Dead Angel]

this is very helpful tiger. i'm glad you put this on your page, now i can come here when i need help reviewing a poem. :)

[Merancapeman]

Haha! A guidline for us poem-killers! At least now I know who to go to when I regurgitate a mess of a poem.

[Scott Casale]

Neat!



I have learned that i am a terrible poet... Heh.

[Goddess Sophia (filomen..]

EXCELLENT...
I really enjoyed this read.
It was informative and thought provoking, I will keep it close by.
It will also serve my own writing.
Thanks

peace

[S.v. Rincon]

Yay a guide! Great advice and thanks for the information!

[Krystal Waters]

Thank you for the great advice on the reviewing the poems. The information is informing and can be put to practice.

Thanks!


Krystal

[Nancy Mc.]

This is an excellent reference piece. It will be helpful for beginners, (myself) right up to a refresher for seasoned reviewers. This line sounds like you are talking about a dog. "If they DON'T use rhymes, it's probably deliberate, and mentioning their absence may irritate the writer." but it is so true. It is refreshing to read a coherent and helpful guide, rather then someones rant because they are pissed off at a review they received.

[Arch D.]

Thank you for this. I can actually use this is my poetry class this semester. Thanks again.