Sentimental

Poets sometimes use sentiments as a source in their poem, but sometimes it becomes excessive. To be able to work around such a problem is very difficult for the poets, but none the less, very important. Poets try to use many techniques, like including a few facts, to try an avoid getting too sentimental. In poems such as “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath and W.D. Snodgrass’s “Mementos, 1” it becomes very easy for the poets to become too emotional.

Although, Plath’s “Daddy” is a very touching poem and should be sentimental to a big extent, it would not be a poem if there was an excess amount of it. Plath theme in the poem is very strong and seems to be based on her true life while reading the poem. The poem talks about her hating her dad so much that she sort of feels tortured even after his death. Some of Plath’s sentences are very neural, in the sense that almost anyone can relate to it. For example, “Every woman adores a Fascist;” in this sentence Plath actually means the opposite, something not only a woman can relate to but also men. Although, she does get extremely close to being too sentimental, for example, “Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through.” W.D. Snodgrass on the other hand also does a decent of not making his poem, “Memento, 1” too sentimental. The poem is about him remembering someone that was dear to him. Even though this could be very emotional, he works around it by including memories that people can relate to (people who loved someone, i.e. spouse). For example, “That you wore to our first dance. The sight of you stunned us all.”

Poets have to be very careful when they are writing an emotional poem, but it is very easy to get too sentimental. Both poets, Snodgrass and Plath, did a great job in avoiding such mistake, even though they get very close. An emotional poem is successful only when everyone can relate to it, or else it is a story.

Beats and the NY School

Poets often use different styles and ways to help their readers or audience better understand the poems. There is no real right or wrong way to write poetry; poets use different styles to reach a different type of audience or to explain in a different way. For example, after reading the poems “Sometime During Eternity” and “Why I am not a painter” the audience is given the objectives of the poem in different ways.

After reading, “Sometime During Eternity” it feels as if the poet is presenting his poem in the form of a story. There is a sequence of events presented in the story, rather than just a list of thoughts and ideas. There are some instances in the poem where it feels like the poet added a few thoughts, but only to make the audience realize that the poet is only a narrator and not a character; for example, “as if he is THE king cat.” In the beginning of the poem the poet mentions the existence of the character, “and that the cat” and then goes through events and in the end says, “real dead,” giving it a ending. On the other hand, in “Why I am not a painter” the poet presents the poem as if he is talking to his friend. For example, “for instance, Mike Goldberg is starting a painting. I drop in.” This is a completely different technique used by the author than the one used in “Sometime During Eternity.” O’Hara uses this technique as a tool to list his thoughts and talk as if he is presenting a small part of his autobiography in this poem.

There are many other techniques used by the poets that make a different impact on different audiences. Some of the poets have used popular life as technique, while others have written poems that are meant to be read fast. The above two poems both have their own ways of impacting the audiences (not necessarily making one better than the other).

"Plain Speech"

The poets have shifted their writing style from modernism to writing in a more contemporary style or ‘Plain Speech.’ Their poems are written in free verse and sound more like a list of facts, without any real metrical pattern. Free Verse is, “composed of variable, usually unrhymed lines having no fixed metrical pattern.” (Dictionary.com) This allows their readers to connect more with their audience and also makes it seem like a hybrid of poetry and prose. The poets used everyday life situation into poetry, but the problem is they have to still stick to be true to what poems are.

Poets have used many elements in their poetry to try and match the poems of their ‘ornamental ancestors.’ One of the elements that Philip Larkin used was metrical variation as a means of telling the audience directly a message or moral. The line he uses is, “Get out as early as you can.” Also, John Berryman uses a theme to connect all of his little sections in “Dream Songs.” He uses the character, Henry, to get his point across to his audiences; as seen in poems of older poets. The poets also use real life experiences like it was used in Dickinson’s poems. For example, “I am afraid, only that it will change, as I am changing” from “Next Day” by Randall Jarrell. Also some of these poems had shown a sadder side in the poets’ life as in the “Dream Songs.”

Although, these poets have used a new technique to write their poetry, it shows more of a connection with their audiences. Apart from the older poets, these poets seem to give a moral, rather than just putting their plain thoughts on paper. The ‘Plain Speech’ not only does it help the audience relate the poems to themselves, but still follows the guidelines of poetry.