Can anyone help me understand teenage poetry?

Question

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time reading what is apparently the poetry of young people.

Two things came to mind - Firstly, I am glad so many young people are interested in writing poetry. Secondly, why must the end result be simply a litany of death, pain, failed love, betrayal, despair etc.

I also don't understand why the readers of each poem say exactly the same thing 'I love this. It is so deep. It almost made me cry. omg' The writer then chooses a response, which often tells me...(obviously, not them)....that the chosen one hasn't actually even read the poem.

Is this just some kind of obsession to build up points? Why?

Come on kids ....let me hear some really articulate explanations for this. I honestly want to understand.

Answer 1

Having read poetry by Stevenson, Longfellow, Wordsworth and the like from age 5, I had an idea of what I liked the sound of.  I grew up in a poor but happy home, with enough love to go around, so when I started writing small poems at age 10, they were of an upbeat nature.

Answer 2

It's scary and sad to think what these teens are going through. How can one feel so much despair having so little life experience? The good thing is THEY ARE WRITING. The words may be filled with despair, but at least they're using their brains for an outlet/release of pent up pain.

If you met some of these kids you'd never know the pain they have inside, for on the surface they are bubbly, giggling happy creatures.

Hope you get some more answers from 'the horses mouth.'

Answer 3

Maybe only a little break. I wrote my own share of blood, death, pain, and despair poems. My entire theory on the subject is that there are two equal playing grounds in human nature. The first, something everyone experiences, is pain. The second, something everyone desires, is love. That is why most poetry is comprised of love or pain, and sometimes a mixture of the two, for in essence, one is the other.

However, before I wax too philosophical, I shall finish my answer. Because of the fixation on these two forms, where every human can be understood, and because teenagers often do not feel the depths of true TRUE love, they write of pain.

The reason everyone in the same age bracket says it is "deep" is because they too feel that same gnawing pain inside, without poetry as the outlet for expression. But of course, this is simply a theory from a particulary mad poet. Who am I to know.

Answer 4

Yes I have realized the same thing. The answerers, instead of providing some honest -and useful- comments, write things like "Luv it" "Oooh that's great..." or even "that's cute". Most of their poems are trites, about pain and more precisley, 'Break up', with no originality of expression, no metaphor, no trope no artistry and etc. I am a teen myself (16), and I do try to act like a normal teenager, I play soccer, I have friends and...but I also try to be different, to be original and "excellent". Intead of writing about cliche themes, I try to write about more "mature" things like the relations between concepts, Odes, and from last week -as you might have noticed- Sonnets.

Although I try to be an average teenager, I've never been called one, and have always had difficulty understanding my peers. But I think, as other answerers have stated before, It is their Experiences and emmotions that urge them to write poems. Many of them have little knowledge of the craft, and that is easily noticable in their writings.

Good luck,

Rid

Answer 5

With hormones flooding the adolescent brain as they do...and trying to find a place for themselves in the world, why should they not write what they do?    

Answer 6

Teenagers write from their experiences. They have not experienced very much yet. Their hormones are flowing. Nature says yes, and society says no.

Most of them are good people.

Give them a break, Granny.  

Answer 7

Elaine has come pretty close to the answer Granny. I cast my mind back some sixty three years when I was still at school.From  the age of  twelve up until girls reached the age of seventeen or even eighteen, most were still flat chested and their minds still fitted their age.

Today with better nutrition a young girl of twelve may have the body of an eighteen year old. It seems to me that their minds are in competition with their bodies. It is as if they are thinking "I look like a woman therefore I must try and think like one". Hence the kind of poetry that is written is a copy of what they have either read about or seen on TV, or have experienced in their own families. My guess is; it for this reason that such poetry is written. "As I am therefore I must be"

In time their minds will catch up. If they are still interested in poetry you will see the gradual changes taking place. This thought also applies to the young men.

Robert

Answer 8

Hi Grannyjill,

You write what you know. I wrote my first poem in a creative writing class at fifteen. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know about figurative language, using concrete terms over abstractions, avoiding cliches.

I did know that I had experienced two divorces, a string of 20 of my mom's boyfriends skirting through the house, a general feeling of unhappiness and anger because I had no real control over my life. So, it was no surprise looking back that my first poem dealt with what I guess you would call teenage themes. There wasn't an Internet then so the best I got for response was from classmates when I read a selection of my work out loud. I still remember one cheerleader Laura who raised her hand and said, "He shouldn't be allowed to say those things." So, I guess what I'm saying is we all start somewhere. I've had a lot more experiences and consequently I've written a lot more poems. You've seen my work, here's my first poem for comparison (which wasn't the one Laura reacted too--that was a later one).

Outcast



I step out of the shadows

screaming in the void

the world offers no solace

life's something to avoid

My eyes reflect no feeling

My heart gives off no warmth

My soul is dying, empty

I'm crying in the dark

Life is but a mockery

Mingled with contempt

Hollow laugter is consumed

by sorrow and regret

Life is full of foolish games

you never knew were there

If only I was worthy

If only I could care

As far as why people respond on here the way they do. People are not responding to the poem as much as they are responding with an "I can relate to this." It's kind of a "me-too" answer.

Answer 9

I like to read teen age poetry as much as I like to see their paintings. I encourage them to write, for writing is a cure to many pains caused by every day life. I believe that it helps them sort their minds out, relax, and express their feelings. When I criticize their poem, I do that honestly discarding the issue of (best answer). I agree that picking the BA sometimes is related to what the asker wants to hear, but that is also OK. All that matters is that our kids 'd have the chance to express their feelings ( and talent, if any), and what is in their minds on a national and worldwide grounds, and get a feed back on the same grounds.Its like finding somebody to talk to.

Answer 10

ok im a 14 year old girl who loves poetry and were teenagers our whole life is love and breakups and friends back stabing us we write poetry to express our feelings and we usally pick the best answer we feel cheers us up or on i believe some people only do this to get points yes but some people really take this seriously if you just read a women older than 20's poetry its all about there life and there jobs or what they observe im guessing if you were a teen in this time youd be writing the same exact thing.

Answer 11

I am not so sure that the topics chosen by teen poets are invariably a reflection of life experience, because I know many teens and they are not all suffering failed love, betrayal, etc.  However, there is a perception among many that such poetic themes are indicative of emotional depth and sophistication and that these poems are "what is expected."  Have you considered that the propensity to write about such a narrow range of emotional experiences is instead indicative of a narrow, and not necessarily painful, life experience, or perhaps simply of a lack of imagination.  As for the critical responses of teens, few indeed, at least in America, have learned the skills of literary analysis required to pass an aesthetic judgment on literature.  That is true for adults as well and stands not so much as a personal indictment as one of the educational system that systematically fails them.  I particularly liked what Rid had to say.  He is a teen who writes poetry and yet has not fallen into the usual traps.  What sets him apart?  Is his life simpler or better than that of other teens? I somehow doubt it!  He has seen the world from his own perspective and honors the experiences of his peers even while showing respect for the conventions of poetic form.  That takes some courage and I applaud that courage.  As for many others, they will reach that point one day, but in the interim let's appreciate them for what they have to bring to the table and let them join in the feast, for we are all so hungry...

Answer 12

it could just have something to do with the scene of being "emo" or being a "scene kid"

most kids will pretend to be so emotionally destroyed to fit in

Answer 13

OMG, your question is just so fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wait, I will get back to you.

To me they are writing about what they are experiencing.  Most are learning though.

Answer 14

Many answers have hit several key issues...I guess you might say it's a combination of the following:

they are starting relationships and dealing with social issues, they have self-doubt, are trying to create self-worth and confidence, are trying to be supportive of others, and be accepted by their peers.  So, some write what's in "their" hearts, emulating others that may have done so in a darker way...teenage angst is real...and give over the top reviews to poetry that to them seems to hit the mark.  They are not editors, publishers, teachers, etc., they're simply trying to be accepted, to have their views accepted, etc.  They feel their opinion is as valid as anyone's, and if they feel they do indeed love the poem, they'll say so...and good for them!  However, not being as experienced or perhaps educated as others, they're at a disadvantage...but they're doing the best they can with what they have to work with, so who can blame them?  Yes, some are trying to build points, but most just want to be heard and accepted...which is also why they sometimes say, "now read mine" and provide a link.

  I'm just happy there are so many young people writing poetry.  Many publishers get submissions by the thousands...yet subscriptions by the hundreds...it seems that everyone wants to publish their poetry, but nobody wants to buy a book or magazine on poetry :)  Still, this is a wonderful venue that would't have been possible 10 years ago.

Answer 15

Their poetry, if not as articulate and traditionalist is no less potent and worthy than any of the greats I feel.

They write from the heart, trying to express (and purge sometimes I guess) how they truly feel, as honestly as they can.

NEVER laugh, critique too harshly or scoff at a Teen's poetry and they'll never forget it and will most likely think twice before showing you their work or opening up again with you.

I respect them for at least grabbing a hold of their emotions and facing their fears (however scattered, dark or strange they might seem) and putting them down on paper - that takes guts.

Even more gutsy if they show someone

All The Best

:-)