L Milton Hankins Poet Rhyme

Nash Was Not Oblivious

I wonder whether the well-known poets of yore
Read poems around a potbelly stove in a local store,
Whether they entered contests sponsored by a peer
Or discussed poetry with a friend over a cold beer?
Do you think Poe might have rewritten and revised,
To make his poems acceptable to an editor’s eyes?
Somehow, I think Nash was not oblivious to style
When he was writing light verse evoking a smile,
Before the days of television and visual entertainment
Writing a lengthy epic was a noteworthy attainment
Today’s editors encourage poetry that is quite concise
And poetry websites will print anything, isn’t that nice?

Written January 29, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger January 30, 2022 at 1:57 AM "Do you think Poe might have rewritten and revised, To make his poems acceptable to an editor’s eyes?" - No. Absolutely not. I think he threw stuff onto a page and had a smoke.

Bill Baker January 29, 2022 at 1:53 PM Yes, to your final statement. Does make you wonder about the evolution of poetry guided by editor's preferences. Sometimes I feel I should just write what I feel. I guess that's what free verse, blank verse and prose are about. Have a great writing day Milt. I have noticed an increase in the output from your poetic pen. :-) Bill L Milton Hankins January 29, 2022 at 2:06 PM Thanks, Bill. Reason: 1) Foul weather keeps me inside. 2) SADD forces me to keep my mind working, and 3) I just love to write poetry!!! Thanks for your thoughts.

Tom Cunningham January 29, 2022 at 12:42 PM Interesting thought Milton, I imagine the poets of old sat at a table with a flickering candle with hot wax dripping down the candle and using a quill to write on parchment but strangely enough their poems have stood the test of time. Tom L Milton Hankins January 29, 2022 at 12:45 PM Indeed, Tom. It is interesting to conjecture which ones knew each other, whether or not they belonged to poetry groups, and when and how they published (or were read). Thanks for your thoughts.