Credibility and the Contemporary Love Poet

The credibility of the contemporary love poet comes into question in every era. Perhaps this is partly because the writing of contemporary love poetry with its new words and expressions of the day, attempts to depict its era. It also reflects the perception of the contemporary love poet in that era subjectively, even though his or her objectivity may be the initial source of his or her inspiration.

The vast majority of people are often unaware of much of what is happening around them, or in the world in general. Many of them do not want to be confronted with new thoughts, or ideas that would force them to re-evaluate or re-assess their own values because then, they have to deal with them. It is so much easier to live in one's own, real world than to have to deal with that of another, or many others. Why leave one's own comfort zone?

The credibility of the contemporary love poet may also be questioned because his or her contemporary love poetry is understood as fiction, not fact, unlike the work of a journalist, in spite of the reality that both may be writing about exactly the same thing, during the same time frame. The journalist is regarded as having credibility, but not the contemporary love poet, even though actual facts may be distorted by the journalist, while the contemporary love poet speaks the truth.

Truth is not necessarily always perceived as truth by everyone, which makes the contemporary love poet who writes about truth appear non-credible. The journalist is obligated to include facts, times and dates of events, whereas contemporary love poetry does not demand that information.

Sometimes, it may be many years later before the truth in contemporary love poetry is confirmed or verified. In the meantime, the contemporary love poet may have been subjected to rejection, abuse, even exile from his or her own family, friends, community and country for his or her contemporary love poetry.

History records that contemporary love poetry critics can be extremely harsh!

The work of the  contemporary love poet who pens a gentler contemporary love poetry may be accepted during his or her own era, simply because his or her work appears to be less offensive to critics and others. He or she may be respected by others, or even loved by them. Contemporary love poets who write expressing higher values like love, may also find their writings accepted during their own era.

Contemporary love poets often write metaphorically using imagery that critics and readers can relate to, and their credibility may be validated because of it. On the other hand, contemporary love poets who use more radical metaphors may find their works outlawed, as they are not understood or accepted. Their attempts at writing contemporary love poetry may be censored or subjected to destruction, either in their era or later. For example, consider events recounted historically, like the burning of books. 

Even some exemplary works written by contemporary love poets may be rejected because they are understood by only a few, not by the majority. The credibility of contemporary love poetry can be subject to severe scrutiny by critics, as well as others in any era. The credibility of the contemporary love poet may be questioned even though there are a few who recognize the validity of what he or she has written and they may even be struggling to protect or preserve his or her poetic works.

Complexity of thought as opposed to simplicity of thought, expressed through the words of the contemporary love poet, may make a difference between acceptance and rejection of his or her contemporary love poetry either in its own era, or later. That may also appear to make a difference in the credibility of the contemporary love poet, as well.

Thus, there are many factors that come into play with respect to the credibility factor of the contemporary love poet, as well as his or her contemporary love poetry. There is no guarantee that the new contemporary love poet will be regarded as credible in his or her era, or others. The same is true with respect to his or her contemporary love poetry, but that should not ever stop contemporary love poets inspired to write.