I currently have a blog post about how to write good and constructive reviews for stories, but what about poetry? Poetry can be a little tricky for me to review because it usually reflects a deep emotional connection with the writer. It’s akin to reviewing one’s soul in the format of words and that can be a touchy subject for some. I have reviewed poetry in the past, but I thought it might be helpful for some to provide a general outline that can be constructive and also sensitive to the author.
With that being said, I’m not one to shy away from letting authors know when the content of their work doesn’t resonate with me. Perhaps, I’m not the correct audience for it and that’s perfectly fine, but there’s a fine line between being respectful and being a jerk about it.
The first thing I look at in any work of poetry is the content. What is the author trying to convey? Is it abstract or direct? Do the metaphors fit the narrative and paint a picture? How is the author’s relatability in regards to similar experiences other readers may have? There are a lot of questions you can ask yourself to help pull your thoughts on the subject to the forefront. Summarize what you believe the poem is saying in your review and explain how it resonates with you. What about it makes it unique? Have you had a personal experience with the theme? Do you admire the details?
Once you have a good grasp of the content, you can move on to other areas such as grammar and structure. Some people like free-verse and others like rhyme. I’ve read both, some with better structure than others. I’m not typically a stickler when it comes to iambic pentameter and the different forms of poetry as I feel it’s more of an art than a science, but some people are. How does the poem flow? Does it tell a story with how it’s structured? Are their unintentional grammatical mistakes or do they play on words on purpose? In this case, you may want to ask the author.
You can break your review down into two parts: the subjective and the objective. It doesn’t have to be a long review, but constructive feedback is crucial to writers who are perfecting their craft. Reviews should be helpful, even if you’re rating it below three stars.
Author Lauren Eason 