What Makes a Good Poem (To Me...)

I like to think that every poet has a different set of experiences and neurological makeup that make their poems unique and different. There are literally thousands of different choices that poets make whenever they write a poem. Their structure, word choice, content, and more is always variable and can be crafted in so many different ways, but why do we think some styles or poems are better than others? What makes each person decide whether or not they like a poem?

Whenever I think about what aspects of a poem I really enjoy, I am first drawn to the way the poem looks as a whole. Before even reading, I'll look at the poem and see if it looks appealing. Many poets take their aesthetic into consideration, especially if they are writing to a specific audience that has particular taste in aesthetic. Last week I wrote about Madisen Kuhn, whose poems have a minimalistic aesthetic. She often uses short lines and little to no capitalization or punctuation, which is often a unique and desired look.

Another poet who considered the way a poem looks is e e cummings, whose poems are noted for the way they are uniquely structured to almost give a visual aspect to the poem.
hist      whist
little ghostthings
tip-toe
twinkle-toe

little twitchy
witches and tingling
goblins
hob-a-nob     hob-a-nob

little hoppy happy
toad in tweeds
tweeds
little itchy mousies

with scuttling
eyes    rustle and run     and
hidehidehide
whisk

whisk     look out for the old woman
with the wart on her nose
what she’ll do to yer
nobody knows
for she knows the devil     ooch
the devil     ouch
the devil
ach     the great

green
dancing
devil
devil

devil
devil
        wheeEEE

Another aspect of a poem that I think sets some apart is figurative language and how a poet employs different techniques to get their message across. I think in some cases, poets can use figurative language that is intentionally vague so that it can be interpreted differently depending on someone's background of experiences that can shape various meanings for the poem. Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many poets from the 1800s and 1900s spend a lot of effort on crafting vivid imagery, which is something I really appreciate in a poem.

And one other thing that can make a good poem is just plain confusion! What I mean by this is that some poems don't immediately make sense at all! If a poem says straight out what it means and what its goals are, there is much less investment into the poem. It's like a puzzle - at first it can be complex or difficult, but once you figure out its meaning, it is so rewarding. One example is the poem "This Is Just To Say" by William Carlos Williams

the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

This poem, at first, seems like it has no deeper meaning. But some careful analysis will give insight into lusting for something that is not yours, the trials of poverty and desire, and loyalty and forgiveness that exist in a family. Without the "mask" of beautiful words and artfully crafted phrases, there is no investment in the poet's message, and I think readers don't feel as much connection to the poet.

The final thing that I look for in a poem is shortness. Personally, I find long, epic poems much more draining and hard to read. My exception is Poe, whose longer poems are necessary for telling stories. However, if we go too long, like Beowulf or many Greek poems, they lose the attention of the reader because often they are not divided into parts that mimic chapters.