[im so academic]

I don't ever see people reading poetry - except in English lessons, if they're English students, or are writers/poets themselves.

Is poetry just reserved for people who are, in some way or another, involved in academic English?

It seems to me that paperback novels and non-fiction books in general are quite popular among the masses (especially with the Kindle and eBooks)... but poetry?

Who reads poetry? It is reserved for English nerds? Or is it accessible to all?

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

My mum used to read poetry to me as a child

[HolyFuzazzle]

The problem with poetry is that it's much more expensive than just prose T.T Also whilst you can read a book and enjoy it, you often have to think hard with poetry a lot... Or I do anyway XD So, if I'm in a mood to do something that takes a lot of effort, I'll read poetry...


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[HopefulFutureMedic]

I absolutely love poetry
Its soo beautiful and an awesome way to express yourself

[Saada]

I pos repped you just because you didn't mention the word ugly. Once.

[chickenonsteroids]

I only read it in English lessons but I do respect it. I started off hating everything about poetry but it's good being able to appreciate the poets techniques and what not. Although I do think some teachers go overboard with their analysis

[lolipanda]

well i don't go out of my way to seek poetry and read it. there are a couple of poems which i like but they are usually funny ones, not like, 'deep' ones.

but i do enjoy reading poems in english (reading, not analyzing ) because as a person, my emotions are quite neutral and don't vary much. i haven't got the ability to feel so strongly about some things, as others. because of that, when i read poetry, sometimes i can feel what the poet feels. i think its a nice way to communicate feelings.

[jsb123]

I suppose it's because poetry needs more thinking about, and so maybe people read it in private.

[gypsyclimber]

I read it as I am a Slam Poet in the UK and as in anything that you follow, it's important to have a good knowledge. Plus I was brought up in a poetry loving family, so have always had an interest in the stuff

[bammzie]

I love poetry
I've even decided that when I have children, I'm going to have a big book of Spike Milligan in the house and when they get a little older, if they are as interested in poetry as I was, I'll introduce them to Wilfred Owen

[spacepirate-James]

I'm a med student and I love poetry. Just bought £40 worth of books to read over the summer. Anyone can read poetry; to say it isn't accessible is, frankly, lazy.

[geetar]

Yes. I am one of them.

[the bear]

(Original post by im so academic)
I don't ever see people reading poetry - except in English lessons, if they're English students, or are writers/poets themselves.

Is poetry just reserved for people who are, in some way or another, involved in academic English?

It seems to me that paperback novels and non-fiction books in general are quite popular among the masses (especially with the Kindle and eBooks)... but poetry?

Who reads poetry? It is reserved for English nerds? Or is it accessible to all?

If you take away the noisy "music" from pop music then the words left behind are poetry...even by sad ****s like adel

[whatsername2009]

(Original post by jsb123)
I suppose it's because poetry needs more thinking about, and so maybe people read it in private.

This is a good point. I certainly wouldn't read poetry on the bus, for example, because I find that in order to appreciate poetry I need some time on my own to reflect on it.

In answer to the OP, I'm an English Lit student, but it's only recently that I've started to read poetry outside of class.

[Norfolkadam]

I read poetry but not in the same way as a novel. I don't really take it out of the house and I read the odd poem every now and again as opposed to a novel which I mostly read on the bus or train and read in one continuous go.

[Big-Daddy]

I do. Mainly to bolster my own writing.

I dislike analyzing it in English classes, though. The academic slant tends to go in the wrong direction. Poets don't think "what technique can I use here?" - it is more important to them to get the point across as skilfully as possible, and this focus seems to be missing in English lessons.

(Original post by the bear)
If you take away the noisy "music" from pop music then the words left behind are poetry...even by sad ****s like adel

That doesn't count as poetry - poetry in this case refers to the published works on the shelves of shops that people may peruse. Song lyrics would not stand a chance of being published as stand-alone poetry unless their singers had performed them first.

[The Lyceum]

I do, quite a lot yes. Though if I'm reading anything contemporary, I try to avoid English since most of it is pretty bad now compared to what we were producing not so long ago. Its a dying craft. Ah well.

[introvertedraccoon]

I like poetry, but mainly if it has a long story behind it; like The Raven and Robert Browning's poems.

[thompsonic7]

I love poetry, but don't read enough of it- alas, I don't read enough of anything lately, due to exams.

[hobnob]

(Original post by The Lyceum)
I do, quite a lot yes. Though if I'm reading anything contemporary, I try to avoid English since most of it is pretty bad now compared to what we were producing not so long ago. Its a dying craft. Ah well.

Contemporary ancient Greek poetry ftw!