It is difficult to describe one's aesthetic for judging poetry, but I'll give it a shot. No matter what I say here, I'll likely compromise now and then. I must emphasize that these are personal statements, and I'm sure others would make different declarations.
The first adjective that comes to mind is eclectic. Within that container, the properties that a poem should ideally have are:
- strong imagery and/or symbolism
- metaphorical depth
- clarity and accessibility
- good rhythm and flow
- deft use of poetic devices ("craftâ€)
- internal coherence and relevance, with no extraneous words or lines
- fresh, energetic language and thought
- some degree of universality (i.e., not too self-absorbed)
- passion for the chosen topic
Obviously, it is difficult to find a poem that excels at all of the above, but we use this list as a measuring stick to judge the overall value of a particular work. Like most editors and publishers, I accept poems that fall short in one or more of these measures because very few perfect poems are written.
You'll notice that I did not mention a preference for subject matter, which would run counter to my quest for eclecticism. Nevertheless, I will offer some personal prejudices against certain subjects:
I do not like poems so mired in the poet's own life that few outside of it can empathize. A poet may speak personally, even confessionally, but the woe-is-me syndrome should be avoided.
I do not belong to the T. S. Eliot school of thought; I have little use for poems written for the erudite unless they can also be appreciated on some level by the great unwashed. I dislike being forced to do Google searches in order to wring meaning from a poem, and I venture to say that I am not alone.
I generally do not like ekphrasis (poems written about, at least on the surface, objets d'art, musical compositions, people or events from history, etc.), especially if esoteric.
I also dislike what I would call contrivances, such as shaped lines of poetry or poems that read both across and down two or more columns. Usually such forms add nothing to the heart of the poem; in fact, often they are an impediment to finding that heart.
I am not averse to formal structures such as haiku or pantoum, but the poem itself must not be subservient to its form. I am also open to rhymed poetry, as long as it is somehow fresh and doesn't sing-song.
I am completely open to what is broadly referred to as "speculative" poetry: science fiction, fantasy, horror, or just "dark" poetry. Speculative poetry has been defined as too many dissimilar things cooking in one ill-defined pot, in my opinion. The fact that I like such poetry does not mean that I wish to emphasize it over all other types, but it's just as welcome to my ear as any other kind.
I should also say that I like well-written social or political poetry that is relevant to our times. I don't want a sermon, however, and I want the poems to show, not tell.
In terms of good taste, I do not want to read pornography unless you've miraculously found a way to make it high art. I also don't like to be grossed out if there's no payoff to me from the grossness. I don't mind the macabre or graphic language and imagery if they are truly germane to the poem. Although I always look for beauty in poems, I feel that what shocks the sensibility can also be beautiful as long as the poem has more going for it than shock value. I do not welcome poems designed to incite racial prejudice, violence, or other acts outside the realm of human decency.
Doubtless, if I thought long enough, I could add to this list of prejudices. You'll have you own list as well. But as George W. Bush was so fond of saying, "I am the decider," at least as far as FutureCycle Poetry (which I edit) is concerned. It goes without saying that I want whatever I publish to be compatible with my own tastes and vision.
There is much more that I could say about how I judge a poem. If you'd like me to expand this writing, please let me know. I offer this in its current form as a supplement to the FutureCycle Poetry submission guidelines. If you have specific questions or comments, please feel free to communicate them in the box provided below.