Bad Poetry?

“Quality breeds quality, in my opinion.  And I will say this:  I have left poetry sites because of poor quality in both writing and feedback, but I have never and would never leave because a site sets an example of excellence that might be above me.”

Amen to that. Examples of excellence can help to breed excellence. Better “players” help the rest of the team to elevate their “game.” That is, if the rest of the team wants to better themselves. The example and the inspiration are right in their faces to take or to leave.

I think of those other sites as a sort of “easy pass.” I don’t mean it as an insult, so much as there are nice people who I’m fond of there, some of whom write nice poems (which I’m happy to cheer) and a few of whom write brilliant poetry. I avoid the attention seekers (and oh, my, there are many). My visits there have their place and my expectations are realistic.

I come here for more intimate communications with fabulous people who are writers, either brilliant or aspiring to be. I come here for honest and detailed feedback on my poems and to give others the same – or learn how to do so. I come here to read poetry that is more likely to take my breath away than not. Poetry that shows me the beauty and freedoms of form. Poetry that makes me wet, or makes me sigh, or rolls in and out of the ordinary thoughts of the day as I soak it in bit by bit over hours or days.

I think that building a site of such caliber is going to require more patience from the “higher level” poets than anyone else (and for the patience that has been extended to me thus far, I thank you). Stephan, I think you should stick with the strength of your vision. If you don’t you’ll be unhappy. And the place is still in its infancy; there’s room for all kinds of growth within the parameters of what you’re looking to create.

I think it’s Harley Davidson that calls its management style “freedom with fences.” There are guidelines to follow, and within those guidelines creativity reigns. That’s the impression I get of what you’re building at Shakes Monks.