Delivering Poetry, or Trying to, Anyway
As far as this editor knows, the only poetry regularly broadcast on NPR is a single poem read during a program, "All Things Considered" (I think.) Will Everett did mention that he'd be sending me a new set of submission guidelines for an established program, to post here at Poetry@suite101.com. I noticed an ad for Theme and Variations in this issue of Oxford American, and one of my own poems will be broadcast on this program.
What strikes me about a scenario like this is the lack of marketing savvy on the parts of editors and businesspersons in relation to poetry. In truth, we are a nation of poets. Some days, judging from my email, you'd think everyone is a poet, or wants to be. Several times I've seen the statement made that poetry books enjoyed record sales in the last few years. I know, without even checking, that MFA programs have bolstered humanities revenues at colleges nationwide.
So why isn't poetry more accessible to the general public? Why don't those who fund and schedule fine arts programming see the value in this genre? For one thing, I think it's because many in the power seat aren't comfortable with selecting the poetry. I recall one listing in a trade book last year. The call for submissions stated, "No pornography, no poetry."
I'm an idea person, and rather than just complain about the niche assigned to poetry by the media, I do have some thoughts on bringing poetry to the masses. Newspapers could earmark a few column inches each week for a poetry corner. National Public Radio should help producers like Will Everett, because NPR should definitely have a radio program devoted to poetry, and I don't just mean poetry by near dead white men, either. Television is the perfect medium for 30 second poetry spots similar to those 'reading is wonderful' spots.
And as for women's magazines, there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for ignoring a genre for which women in particular have a fondness. Instead of rehashing ways to lose weight and giving us recycled advice on sex, these magazines could do something worthy and carry a few poems, and I don't just mean greeting card variety poems.
I could go on and on. After all, I'm a writer, one in love with a chameleon called poetry. And I'll say it again. Thank God for the Internet, because that's where real poetry flourishes these days.
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