Poetry Put Youths To Sleep.Why?

I love writing ,especially poems.In my undergraduate days i use to think and write a lot about the philosophy of life and these thoughts usually came when travelling in a bus or in the school bus with my friends around.Sometimes they gist loudly in the bus and would always expect my contributions but would get nothing but silence.Then,they gave me a name.

They found it funny and wierd that somebody would spend a better part of the day writing, writing and writing,  of all things, poems - geez,the most boring thing one can ever do! Those ones that had the modesty to read the poems dump the manuscripts back in my hands half way, giving every ostensible reason why they would be back to finish it (they never come.)
Only few who has genuine interest in literature reads,critiques and may even give you suggestions at times.

It was the same story in my high school days.Students never wanted to read the literature books included in the WAEC syllables especially poetry. They only try to read them during siesta and guess what? It puts most of them to sleep before they finish the first line.

Right from the days of our fathers,youths who had the priviledge to be educated utilized every opportunity.They became our teachers in primary schools and secondary schools.They were our lecturers in our undergradute days till date,they also wrote most books of literature students use for class work today. You don't see such zeal in our youths today.

So, i keep wondering,is it that youths are lazy to think,write and read or that the works of literature is totally boring(i disagree with this option) or that to do this literature thing is just  innate ,you know, like a talent? I really don't understand. When all the old literature icons die,who will fill in the blank spaces?

yes it does, just as a good lullaby puts a baby to sleep

Poetry like music ,appeals to people differently ,I believe there's also a talent aspect to it ,unfourtunately in this part of the world it seems to be a dying art and there's quite a number of reasons for this,apathy ,ignorance and medocrity are but a few. I'm a musician and poet of sorts (not professionally) and whenever i'm in the zone I churn out music and poetry that reflect my opinions,veiws and feelings on any particular subject and the feeling of gratification ,I get money cannot buy.The system is'nt helping matters,the mediocrity which characterisies our movies,music and general way of life do not encourage deep thinking and more importantly does not reward it,so almost everyone takes a short cut which usually leads to nowhere.

i love and appreciate poetry but that was a taste i had to develop on my own without much encouragement. it helped though that i enjoyed writing even before i knew anyone could write a poem.

truth is poetry is an acquired taste and u don't really appreciate it fully if u don't try your hands at it a few times. so even though i know it is sad that most kids don't appreciate poetry these days, I can understand why. Why be a poet when u can be Jay-FREAKING-z.

another theory is that poetry like many art forms has evolved. perhaps back in the day, what you call poetry (academic poetry) was the rage and kids felt cool if they could recite shakespeare's sonnets off head. today, that stuff is just not cool anymore and rap/musical lyricism has taken its place. i listen to some rap songs (i hate rap by the way) and i have to just respect the lyricist because that stuff is not by accident. perhaps the message may not be as profound but the delivery and the attention to detail is apparent and kids are bobbing their heads and coming up with new stuff everyday. so in that way, poetry is not really putting them to sleep, it is waking them up. 

@ ziddy:

I'm still a writer. I do commercial writing in brand management.It's lucrative but not as soulful as personal writing.I will post my stuffs soon. Though, i'm highly finicky about bringing out my unpublished works for fear of plagiarism.But, i'll post some of my approved works with 'loving you.com.' Hope it doesnt put y'all to sleep.hehehehehe

different strokes for different folks,
i don't exactly dig poetry either
however, there are a few i'd read/listen and go 'WoW'!!

I think our attention span is so short.
And poem take some patience before the interesting part comes along. Unlike music where the starting beat just drives you crazy immediately.
Try Timba land's beats then you'll feel what i'm talking about.
Times have changed and new things have taken over the entertainment that makes poetry so Obsolete and "Old School" if you know what i mean.

Basically stuff you arent enlightened about wouldnt make sense to you. It is no lie that many of the so called graduates we produce in the country can't speak or construct good english, are they the same ones that would now appreciate poetry. Poetry like other forms of literature is deep and only the deep mind can understand it. But that one does not feel poetry does not mean the person is dumb. Many scientist loathe poetry. Therein the issue of taste comes in.

thanks girlfriend! will definately check out the site

gold can't be found everywhere u know? so to all the few people who just love the soul that poetry _{and all forms of art} provide, celebrate! because we're one in a million

good idea!

y don't u start the posting

i don't mind posting some of my works but i think id rather do that tru the right channel. plagarism is not my friend

but its cool what someone like seun the gracious and merciful owner of the land is doing.


let's see what uve got!

@ ziddy

cool thread but i wonder why its in the joke section, i think everyone on this thread shld conrrtibute seriously to the unednding story even if its just for fun like im doing

it doesnt have to end up like an unserious story with silly reply when we can try our hands on raw creativity

maybe that would move it to the litereture section

poetry isnt that boring,its like music u feel it  inside of u,ite like listenin 2 music, most ef the lyrics in some soul music r pure poetry

@iice
you r right

poetry never stops getting complicated. its interesting sometimes though but very confusing