07-19-2016, 09:22 AM
Those are tough, but I see poetry isn't so much puzzles to solve but meant to be artful arrangements of words and meanings.
Thus, really abstract poetry should mean something to people who follow language the way visual artists appreciate abtractions in visual art, albeit not always approachable.
As such, if a poem is too dense to really even understand WHAT the poet is doing, I generally either dodge it or express that. Else, discuss the word usage, meter, composition etc as best possible. It might mean more to some people than myself, so if I'm totally lost I either say nothing or admit the same so the author at least knows they left me at Albuequrque. So the intent, in my opinion, does matter.
Rambly response but I hope it helps.
Thus, really abstract poetry should mean something to people who follow language the way visual artists appreciate abtractions in visual art, albeit not always approachable.
As such, if a poem is too dense to really even understand WHAT the poet is doing, I generally either dodge it or express that. Else, discuss the word usage, meter, composition etc as best possible. It might mean more to some people than myself, so if I'm totally lost I either say nothing or admit the same so the author at least knows they left me at Albuequrque. So the intent, in my opinion, does matter.
Rambly response but I hope it helps.