Why is this Poem so Obscure?
Ferrick Gray
The Yellowed Page
Volume 1, Issue 7
As a reader of poetry, no doubt you have come across one or more poems that troubled you in the manner that you found them quite obscure. In other words, you had difficulty understanding what the poet was on about or actually writing about. Rest assured you are not alone.
The fact is, this is not uncommon, even from poets we enjoy. There always seems to be that one poem (at least) that we have difficulty reading. Readers of your poetry may experience the same. Why is this?
Two of my favorite writers have created this dilemma for me on a number of occasions. Both are very well known and have crafted some of the most memorable poems ever written. As I say, what they have written is immortal! That is to say, perhaps one percent of their poetry. I might be daring to say that 80% of what we write in close to rubbish, 15% is very good, 4% is outstanding and that last 1% is immortal. But! How much of it is obscure?
For much of it, the style and content depends on the background of the poet. We can include such things as where they lived, interactions with their family, friends and associates, their employment among other activities as well as their education. We may also go so far as to surmise their mental ability or instability. At times there are a lot of things to take into account, and all of these influence how and what the poet writes. Think about yourself and the poetry you write. Is it any wonder that on occasions we come across something that is difficult to comprehend?
Some poets are notorious for this and yet others only on occasions. We cannot always rely on the title to give any hint because it may be just as obscure. Even so, we may also have difficulty relating the title to the content because we are not familiar with either.
Another factor to take into consideration is that many of the earlier poets had a very different education and they were (for the most) well versed in Latin and Greek as part of their normal school lessons. Many were also familiar with German, French and Italian. Due to this, we find verses in these languages creep in which we today may not be familiar with.
I think in many respects Ezra Pound may be taken as the extreme. He searched for something different. There has to be something new out there in the wilds of poetry. He challenged meter and form in his pursuit of betterment. He demanded an educated readership, even with his prose. To many his work comes as incomprehensible. His Cantos are very much when and where, although at times it is difficult to determine either. For example you would be lost with the first if you were not familiar with Sordello or Homer's Odyssey.
T. S. Eliot’s poems The Waste Land and Four Quartets are, or can be equally baffling unless you know of his background. Both have much to do with his relationships with women; his wife, a childhood sweetheart and a very close friend as well as the result of war. Ezra Pound too comes to the fray, especially with The Waste land.
Eliot too yearned for that something different and inwardly knew that he was capable. Pound and Eliot were not the only poets on this crusade and the same was happening in art and prose.
Obscurity in a poem has both good and bad points. The good is that it may have some mysterious quality to it which maintains the reader's interest. As with many poems of this style, the reader may well be able to relate to certain aspects and actually become part of the poem. An active participant you could say. The bad is that the content may be so personal to the poet that any references are lost on the reader, leaving them in a state of confusion and perhaps frustration in that they are incapable of comprehending what the poem is about or what the poet is trying to convey.
You have to accept that any poem which has a deeper meaning for you may not have the same effect on the one who reads it. Sometimes this can be the difference between what one perceives as a good poem or a bad one.
Shakespeare’s sonnets to the dark lady and a beautiful male youth are quite obscure in what the poet’s relationship with them may be. We have little to no idea to whom they were addressed. No matter how beautiful they may be, there is an element of mystery and questioning about the recipients, and the true purpose of the sonnets. But all of this does not discourage us from reading or appreciating them, even if just for the skill it takes to write the sonnet.
So can this obscurity cause a problem for one appreciating the poem? Well, yes and no, and I think that most would be divided in opinion. Reason being that one’s concept of what is obscure will and must vary due to our individuality.
Some poems do not need to be understood in terms of their origin because the poet has been able to create those images in words which the reader is able to see, feel and appreciate. An art in itself. On the other hand, some poets create such complex and foreign images making it difficult to piece everything together to create a satisfying whole for the reader.
However, our dislike for not understanding is not always a determining factor in disliking a poet’s work. For most, poetry is a source of enjoyment, and we may be content with what has been offered up for our appraisal and being able to mentally manipulate the images to suite our own experiences, likings or dislikings.
I would doubt that a poet would go out of their way to purposefully strive to make their poem incomprehensible albeit possible. They write for a reason, personal or not. Although there are poets who write to popular reading, a great poet does not.
We have no trouble in finding such popular poetry today because it litters poetry groups and societies. It is full of pithy sayings, haphazard construction and demonstrates little skill. In general, there is nothing to think about and the result is just prattle or the rewording of another’s work. There is a complete absence of originality.
Today, there is no encouragement to write differently or in classical form because it is this mediocre substance that the herd at large craves. All of it the same. Thus no chance of the obscure with this lot! All hail the vers libre, or at least the common and incorrect interpretation.
The greater portion are not of the laureate disposition of writing because it is expected by the crowning authorities.
The obscure can be testing, frustrating and confusing, but it can also create a sense of interest and excitement that cannot be achieved by something that is so obvious that it becomes insulting. A poet can be guilty of offering up too much information and not allowing the reader to use their imagination. Where is the enjoyment in that?
For this to succeed, each line, each word must be chosen for a purpose, at least for effect. They must have a use and be charged with meaning. No easy task even for the best.
The complexities of a poem can be overlooked because it is too difficult or it takes too much time and effort to comprehend. As a result it is called obscure, bad or incomprehensible whereas we may find that it is merely misunderstood and often due to our own ignorance or foolish acceptance of the mediocre.
Over the years I have found that the obscurity of a poem is attributed to our own failings. A failure to read outside of what we are comfortable with, failure to challenge ourselves or failure to appreciate something different for fear of reprisal. Perhaps it simply relates to our opinion when asked: What is poetry?