How to Critique Contemporary Love Poetry

How to critique contemporary love poetry is a topic that critics have pondered in every era since poetry was first written. That mystery still remains unresolved today and thus, the question is still unanswered, in spite of vast transitions that are apparent in the leaps and bounds of literary progress.

A better question might be that of, who if anyone, is the best critique of contemporary love poetry of the past, or the present?

One might suggest that the best critique of any piece of contemporary love poetry in any era, is likely to be the entrepreneurial love poet who has written it. Perhaps the harshest critique of any particular era of contemporary love poetry, is also the same contemporary love poet.

Many different kinds of critics appear on the horizon in every era, but only the initial love poet has pure subjectivity with respect to his or her poetry project. In fact, only he or she knows exactly what objective experience, happenstance or inspiration has triggered his or her poetic work.

For all other critics in every era, a critique becomes mere speculation.

Even when the critic lives in the same era as the contemporary love poet, he or she does not have exactly the same perception as the love poet. It may appear similar in many ways, like verbiage, mode of expression or even on a more learned, academic level, but it is never exactly the same and thus, any critique by another person cannot convey to others, exactly the same level of understanding as that of the poet.

While this may sound like a harsh criticism of contemporary love poetry critics, their concerted efforts in every era, may be subjected to criticism, as well. Perhaps they should be too, because their critiques often serve to stifle or smother the true spirit of love expressed in true contemporary love poetry.

Writing based on the inspiration of the contemporary love poet may become discolored, altered or otherwise subject to ongoing destruction because of the insensitive objectivity of radical critics, or others, in their supposedly-real world interpretation of contemporary love poetry.

On the other hand, there are serious critics who make an attempt to critique contemporary love poetry within its own context and meaning, in every era. Their critiques are more appropriately a sincere inquiry related to the joy of discovery. They venture into criticism on an honest quest for truth, not one intended for the purpose of grandiose speculation by the critic and others, or distorted sensationalism based on the potential appropriation of wealth or fame.

How to critique contemporary love poetry is something that only an individual critic can determine in relation to a specific poetic work, or the collective body of works created by a contemporary love poet during a specific era.

Should a contemporary love poet have to live in fear of contemporary love poetry critics?

In a perfect world, an ideal literary realm of contemporary love poetry, the contemporary love poet should be able to experience the freedom of writing about truth in accordance with his or her perception of it, in his or her era. Unfortunately, the ideal is invariably something to strive towards, like the goal of perfection and not necessarily achieved.

Because perfection lies in the heavenly or the divine spiritual realm, attempts at poetic expression in the natural literary realm are often mocked, ridiculed or otherwise subjected to destructive criticism by others. Contemporary love poetry critics can become downright cruel to contemporary love poets, but does not necessarily need to be such.

What readers are really seeking in terms of reading the critiques of contemporary love poetry over time, are not necessarily what negative, destructive hyper-critical critics expect.

Love, joy and peace are sought by people of all races, creeds and colors. The vastness of the truth about the human experience evident in contemporary love poetry, offers new hope and the possibility of achieving love, joy and peace.

A true critic of contemporary love poetry will strive to become instrumental in turning a negative interpretation or criticism, into one that demonstrates its proper orientation. How to accomplish that task remains an individual quest for every era.