Understanding The Dark Side of Contemporary Poetry

One of the most severe criticisms of contemporary love poetry has to do with its dark side. Understanding the dark side of poetry is not always easy, as there is often a great deal of fear associated with contemporary poetry created in any era.

Note that the word contemporary refers to the present or current era, although it can also be used with reference to events of the past or any era. For example, contemporary love poetry critics of any era can be found in their own contemporary era settings, not just this in era.

Contemporary love poetry has two distinct sides, not just its dark side. Its opposite is true too, as there is a lighter side, as well. It may not always be immediately identifiable as such.

Fear, anger and hatred often surface with respect to the dark side of contemporary love poetry. At the same time, there may be a softer, gentler dark side that still holds some degree of mystery in contemporary love poetry.

New or different realms of contemporary love poetry in any era, may be subjected to suspicion linked to fear of the unknown and thus be labeled as its dark side, or at best its gray side.

It is often more comfortable for those who read poetry to delve into the poetic works of the historical past, than to open their hearts and minds to contemporary love poetry in the present. Its frankness and honesty may shock critics into stark reality that forces them to deal with it one way or another. This may mean avoidance, flight or resistance to it. It may also paralyze them into emotional immobility.

The voice of the contemporary poet may be hushed because of the perceived dark side in his or her contemporary love poetry that focuses on disaster, tragedy and mankind's suffering. No poetry reader wants a continual diet of pain and angst. It is easier to deny its existence than to acknowledge the agony of the human condition.

There is another important aspect to the dark side of contemporary love poetry that often remains relatively undiscovered. It is essentially good and not evil.

Imagine the darkest night with the sudden disclosure of a formerly unrecognized light visible in the distant sky. It is the extreme darkness of night that allows its discovery. The contrast of the dark and light reveals a new world of hope for the future.

The utter bleakness and desolation inherent in the dark side is often that of despair. The new light that emerges opens new horizons and thus there is the possibility of effective resolution.

The word enlightenment depicts a breakthrough in the darkness. Enlightenment is always needed in every era and generally welcomed when recognized as such, particularly in terms of knowledge in a time of non-knowledge.  A new beacon of awareness always offers a potential new pathway into the future.