leonardcohenforum.com

I doubt if we all agree on all of LC's poetry either.

Paula,
I am not blaming a reader for a poor poem, but surely a reader who has limited experience and knowledge and who makes inaccurate and uneducated remarks saying a poem is bad for their own lack of understanding certainly would not make a good poem bad.

I've just visited this correspondence: all I can say right now is that the writer must be his/her greatest critic. Anything else should be defended, accepted, or rejected by the writer. It is my firm belief that we learn from reading, writing and criticising poetry.
Andrew.

Andrew,
Regarding your last sentence, are credentials prerequisite?
~Lizzytysh

To Paula,
I agree with the second paragraph of your latest post..."If you place your poem....".
I disagree with the next, especially "the author believes it to be good (otherwise they would not post it)." My own view is "the author believes his/her poem is worthy of criticism, therefore it's posted".
Andrew.

Andrew,
Speaking [again] of criticism, please go to post due north of yours, and answer.
~Lizzytysh

I take your point Kathy. I have a solution, some sort of register where readers can be allocated poems which are within their capablities thereby all egos in the equation remain relatively intact - (if only)

Andrew we have to agree to disagree. I write poems which are totally diabolical and wholly inadequate to post. The only reason I would post a poem would be if I felt it was good enough. If I did post and my poem was cannibalised and dissected to within an inch of its life and I was left with the pickings I would be devastated - believe me you would have to do that with my poems.

The glass house effect comes into play as I do not put my poems up for close inspection I believe I am only qualified to comment on my enjoyment of the poem not to give my views on the technical approach.