"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.