Poking about in New York history recently I ran across Edgar Allan Poe again.
I had never read any Poe, even though I had at various times got hold of collections with the best of intentions. Once I visited a former hotel where he reputedly lived while in New York. Later I discovered the actual location where he wrote his famous poem, The Raven, uptown in 83rd Street where (at that time) a rural cottage was located.
As I was reading through the Raven, with its famous namesake crying out ‘Nevermore!’ to tune of the writer’s loss, I reflected on how much notoriety and fame Poe had during his lifetime. I could not imagine a poem creating the same sensation now. It just goes to show you how much the popular written form can change over time.
It got me thinking how many people read poetry these days, and how many SFF writers actually pursue the art form.
Any speculative fiction poets out there? Who regularly reads and enjoys poetry?
Cross-posted at chrismcmahons blog.
Mad Genius Club 
24 responses to “Poems Anyone?”
Actually, Chris, I have an entire volume of poetry out, called Stolen Moments. It’s a little of this and a little of that. Some nature, some memories, some mythic fantasy both European and Native American. It’s an ebook at the moment, but I’m thinking about having it printed. I don’t know if it’s worth it; it doesn’t sell much. Nobody seems to want poetry much anymore.
…Unless it’s song lyrics…
Congratulations on getting the collection out. I think all anthologies tend to sell less than novel-length stories, so I would not let low sales daunt you. Perhaps if you printed you could direct sell at peotry events or similar festivals?
Good luck with the sales.
Pern was stuffed to the gills with poems– the lady author isn’t still around, but she’s basically modern….
Nice one. It’s been a while since I’ve read the Pern novels. How cool were they! I had forgotten they contained peotry. Cheers,
I memorized “The Little Queen All Golden” at… maybe 13? Still can recite it at will….
I tried to sell a poem to Asimov’s. I can see the flaws in it now (the meter changes) but then, the poems they do run mostly don’t have structure, let alone rhyme. It was rejected with no comment.
It’s here: http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/201/b/2/solid_state_by_mauser712-d412flk.html
Let me know what you think. (If the link fails I have another.)
That’s err…dark. I mean, I like it and there’s definitely a story there, but it makes me question some things… Basically, good job. I’d’ve published it, but then, what do I know?
Yeah, they’ve been running some odd stuff lately. I recently read a story about dumb alien chickens.
Hi, Mauser. I wrote peotry for my own self-expression, but I’ve not the slightest idea about what it’s supposed to be like. Yours does tell a story and evokes a world in a small space of words, which is a plus. In terms of a sale, I guess one thing you could look at is the type of themes explored by Asimov’s published poems and also tone & how they compare.
Oh, and basically, the poem was my response to all the “Singularity” fiction they had been running, and the idea that once you upload everyone to a virtual world, would they even be aware of an external threat in the physical world?
Then I did it in Haiku:
Singularity
is civilization with
a power off switch
M. Lackey wrote a whole slew of poems for the Valdemar books, many of which were later set to music.
I read and enjoy pre 1950s or so poetry, especially Kipling, Browning, some Elliott, and the German neo-Classical and Romantic poets. The Beats and more modern stuff does not move me.
And Banjo Patterson. Love Banjo Patterson.
Interesting. The only thing close to that I have put into text were invented song lyrics. In my SF novella Eyes of Erebus I had an entity that was intercepting transmissions from Earth as it approached through space. I wanted a whole bunch of 1950s radio bits. I knew the top hits from that era, but the copyright issues killed my original plan to use real lyrics. Instead I invented a bunch of songs that were similar and used bits of those.
I have an attempt at a poem in my current WIP. It’s part of a religious ceremony that takes place at an odd time and I think it adds something, but by and large I don’t do much with poetry. I took a writing class a few years back. The prof, besides being a really cool guy, was a poet. Everyone in the class wrote a poem for their final paper even though they didn’t have to, except me. I just couldn’t do it. I did get a free editing of Chapter four of my novel though.
Free editing. Cool:) I can understand your reluctance. My own peotry is rare & very personal.
I used to not have any use at all for poetry. None of what I was expected to read ever really did much for me. (May have been language issues, may have been that poetry teachers like might not have been anything I could relate to.) Then I found Kipling, and, at the same time, was at a level that I could appreciate it.
I love Kipling’s poetry. Sons of Martha, Sappers, and Hymn of Breaking Strain. Wait, I mean Secret of the Machines for my third, not the Hymn, tho the Hymn is also important. An engineer may get why those in particular have so much meaning to me..
Of course, I also like Kipling’s prose.
I’ve written poetry for assignments, but it wasn’t something that really clicked. I probably should think about making an effort to try some on my own, as my writing has changed in other ways.
Hi, some nice recommendations. There are so many things I should read, so how peotry seems to always slip to the bottom of the list. Should make the effort though. A peom that gets to you and be very powerful.
I enjoy poetry when I trip across it, but rarely seek it out. In writing, I’m afraid the only poems are, so to speak, spontaneous (and atrocious) from a single character.
Poet character – I’ve never written a character that writes peotry. It’s started me thinking on a whole new thread about weird character traits:)
He’s an aspiring poet. He gets all tangled up in words, the women start laughing and fall into his arms . . . I wonder if he’s decided to _not_ improve?
I do love to read poetry from time to time. Some of my favorites are Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William Blake, and of course Edgar Allan Poe. I like to write poetry as well when I’m of the inclination and a certain inspiration puts the first few lines in my head.
A real collection of talent there. I wonder if somehow the artform picks the person or is it down to exposure?
Here we go. Writing challenge! Write a science fiction or fantasy story, which includes a poem as a pivotal part of the plot. It maybe the inciting incident, the necessary information to make the climax work, or even a part of the ending, with the main character summing up their experience in a poetic reflection. Go for it, and may the best rhyme and rhythm win!
I’d forgotten, but in Poul and Karen Anderson’s collection “The Unicorn Trade,” they include poems. Poul’s I think. I can’t find my copy (I put it up so nothing would happen to it and . . .)