This topic has been following me around a lot lately, so I thought I’d finally try to articulate my thoughts on it in one place.
Some of the questions that swirl around this topic are: How to Market Poetry? Can We Market Poetry to Those Who Don’t Normally Read it? Will More People Come to Poetry if it is “Off the Page” so in Video, Audio, Subways etc? Why Do We Want, so Much, to Push for Poetry?
There is no simple answer for any of this but I’ll start with the last and kind of work my way around: I think poets push for Poetry to have a presence with non-poets because we know how powerful a particularly good poem can be, how–like a powerful song or movie–the art of poetry can truly make you stop in your tracks.
Because we love Poetry, (and I’m mainly speaking from those people who not only write poetry and talk about their own work but who want to share the work of other people they love – cause I do rant a bit about navel gazers) we want everyone to have some connection to it. But, the reality is, most poetry has an audience with other poets and a select few of people who enjoy words. I am starting to feel that this is not something that is ever going to significantly change. And is that a bad thing?
I’m starting to believe it isn’t a bad thing. I’d like to see younger people more interested in poetry and that is part of why I started my YouTube zine “Shape of a Box” because I wanted a wider audience for poetry as well as other good fiction/non-fiction/comix and stage/screen but, sadly, those still aren’t the people I’m reaching. The people who want my videos are people who have been in the zine and send it to their friends. There are very few people who just go to the site to watch the videos on a weekly basis. I have plans to keep the zine alive after my one year anniversarry in October by doing monthly issues, but I’m beginning to second guess even that.
So, where do I find poetry alive? I think it is actually VERY much alive on the page. I think the best way to get it OFF the page is to go to Open Mike’s and to do readings wherever you can because the physical presence of a poet with their words and their pages seems to be what draws an audience in. I see this with the younger generation as well as my generation and beyond. People who truly love words and want to be surrounded by them still really want, for the most part, the physical feel of the page. And I think we should keep it that way.
So read a good book today, or go somewhere and read to a live audience. The presence of paper, poet and power will equal joy 
Life is the longest journey. Take your friends along and get 
This is an interesting question. I think you’re right, in that the biggest audience for poetry is other poets (or writers). I’m ok with that, but I do still want everyone to have connection to poetry. I want poetry to exist in public spaces. The Inauguration is a good example. It wasn’t the greatest poem ever written and I think a lot of people either attending or watching the ceremony didn’t bother to pay attention when it was read. But some did, and it was out there, and that is what I think is important. I wish there were more opportunities to have poetry out in public like that. Read or on the page and given away.
I also agree that poetry is alive on the page. But it is also alive when read, as it did evolve from spoken traditions. I think a lot of people, including myself, like to see poetry on the page because it allows me to read at my own pace, to go back to lines that move me and to have the time and space to think and react to the poem.
Anyway, great post!
I so love how involved you are with poetry. Getting down on the publishing end has reinvigorated my desire to connect with other people especially young people about poetry. I would really love to teach some workshops and be more in person then just on the net. I’m hoping maybe someone will give me the chance to do that.
And folded word is continuing to work on the future of our own ebook and printed book options!
For the most part, people who read poetry also write it. The exception is when you’re a kid and you have to read it in school. One of the strangest things that I’ve ever seen was on a sidewalk in downtown Morganton. I was walking and I saw something written and stopped, it was “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound written in hot pink chalk on the sidewalk! I thought it was beautiful, and in some ways, it was different from just reading it on the page.
How random to see that on the street
That is actually the poem I decided to frame for my photograph wall because it is so short.
Hi, good post. I have been thinking about this topic,so thanks for writing. I’ll definitely be subscribing to your blog.