Links to inspiring poets/ discourse on poetry
This poem by Sylvia Plath, who I have admired for as long as I've been writing poetry, combines both the mythic and femininity. For those interested in strong women poets, Plath is an ideal place to start. This poem in particular resonates as it deals with the pitfalls of womanhood through the allegory of Persephone, whose story of being stolen has resonated with women for centuries. What has always struck me about the myth is the bond between mother and daughter. This poem explores womanhood through the scope of sisters of Persephone.
A small excerpt of an Elizabeth Barrett Browning (who also helped pave the way for women poets) recounts the sexist attitude many had toward women writers in the past. This link also explores when attitudes toward women writers began to shift, and the long arduous journey many had to take in order to be recognized as competent writers. It also makes available links of other great women poets whose poetry deals specifically with feminism on a timeline that goes all the way back to the 1600s and stretches into the contemporary.
This article is a hard pill to swallow for any aspiring poet, yet is an important pill all the same. While many writers fall under the folly of thinking their work isn't successful because the readership is lacking, this article urges the writer to consider that maybe they're just not all that great at writing. Narcissism is an easy slope to slip down as an artist, and lack of interest in one's work requires more introspection than blame placing. This article suggests that maybe it's not poetry being rejected by the general public, but simply poets not writing well enough to be read.
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As a woman who centers much of my poetry around femininity, this article raises an important question of whether women just write different poetry than men and what the implications of that would be. Though the article concludes in no certain answer, it leads many who identify as women if they are predestined to always write "female" poetry. It also explores if "female" poetry is only ever beloved by other women, while men are reluctant to read it. It raises many questions for woman-identifying writers to explore within their work, and can make one think more about the intent of their poetry,
Intersectionality is part of what makes the diversity of poetry so rich. As a Jewish American woman poet, having the feeling of marginalization and watching society from the sidelines captured in an article is rare. Centering oneself within the world is a feat many poets tackle in their work, and having my specific identity outlined by others helps me understand myself better. This article also contains links to women Jewish American poets who also capture this feeling of existing on the periphery.
This poem in particular has always struck me with its word choice and imagery. For anyone looking to get involved in a more contemporary poet that gives you a wealth of color and imagery to imagine, Derricotte is a great way to start. This poem, a free verse, often has me rereading it out loud to get a taste of its fluidity. I often find inspiration in Derricotte when I'm finding myself at a loss of inspiration.