Background/explanation sections for poems

I think it would be nice to explain your own poems so people can better understand where your going with your thoughts (that is if you want to explain your poem or leave it to the readers imagination) but more importantly some kind of background section, there's always some kind of background to a poem.

Just like with a art piece you have some kind of description to go with the piece.

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Yay

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I definitely would! I think maybe a character limit might be necessary, so we don't end up with someone's life story with each poem...but it would be a valuable tool for certain poems, especially the very dark or heavy poems, where after reading it you wonder if that poet is contemplating suicide or murder or something...read the background and you might discover the poem was years old, or just a response to a bad day....

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I vote yes and agree with sk. More than 25 words but not a life history.

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for sure....i already have included an explanation with several of mine

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Would like to see it.

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This would be great! We paint with words. Many times,I have wanted to leave one.

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Poetry explains itself. If you have to explain it, you've missed your mark.
It's like answering for your child when someone asks them a question.

There are other site improvements that should have top
billing over "explaining your poem's meaning".

Last edited by dahlusion 04-16-2009 at 08:35:42 PM

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dahlusion in my eye has it pegged to a T! To the point that our writing should explain itself. hehehe me is lazy

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I didn't see this as a section to explain the meaning of the work, but a few notes on a
"how it came about" theme. That's what I would use for, if needed.

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I also had in mind just giving background.

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Yes, I agree with it to. I would also use it.

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Not a bad idea, not all will use it and shouldn't. Anyway that I can better understand you is to better understand your writing. We could share so much more sometimes with that kind of info. Keeping in mind, too close a friend can't/won't always tell you what they really think. I have had that problem, then there's the ones who want to put themselves in all your work. To some of these, you can do no wrong ... now they cannot help you near as much. Be well group, I'll see more and more of you around. ken