Prose poems - are they poetry?

[Lucizzz]

Hi,
I'm fairly new to poetry, but write in other forms (short stories, scripts, articles, novel-in-progress etc). I was wondering what your thoughts are on "prose poems."

Would you call this poetry, or fiction? I.e. If I would like to try getting my prose poems published, should I send them to poetry markets or short story markets?

Many thanks for your thoughts,
Luci

 

[poetinahat]

Hi, Lucizzz -- I don't have much (read: no) background with prose poems. I would like to see your discussion take off, though. I'll be away for a few days, but I hope to revisit it when I return.

Meanwhile, perhaps you can have a look at some of the works here by JHADNOT. I think what he writes would be prose poems, and I would call them poems rather than fiction.

Does anyone here have more insight into the world of prose poetry?

 

[Rivana]

Personally I don't much care for them. Either it's prose or poetry, prose-poems to me feels like someone is trying to 'trick' me into reading their flash fiction when all I wanted was poetry. I love poetic prose and I love a poem that tells a story, but the middle ground that is the prose-poetry just really rubs me the wrong way. Might be I just haven't been lucky enough to find something worth reading, I don't know. Or maybe the long lines without punctuation (often) and that (often) make no sense when read as prose make my head spin too much to appreciate it.
As for technicalities though, I know a market or two that don't accept prose-poetry as serious poems. But I'm sure there are tons that do as well (ehrm, or maybe not sure at all, but I suppose they would?). It depends on the editors' tastes I'd guess.
Basically? I'd say present it as either prose-poetry or simply flash fiction with a poetic writing style. So, you could aim for either market, just read the guidlines. If it doesn't specifically say that they don't accept prose-poetry, then there's no harm in submitting. Hell, you're actually doubling your market. ^o^ Either way -if it's good enough, they'll probably take it no matter what you call it.

Disclaimer: Of course, I'm not an expert, these are just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[C.bronco]

If done well, yep. I think if you're at a reading, and a poet reads a great poem, and you later see it & it's actually a paragraph, then, yes. I've had that experience.

 

[Godfather]

of late, i have a much broader view of poetry. i would say prose poems are certainly poetry. absolutely.

then again, i would consider most of kerouacs writing poetry. novels, or other. if it appeals to my poetry sense, its poetry to me.

 

[Lucizzz]

Thanks everyone! Glad to know I'm not the only one who's not completely sure - and that it really comes down to how good it is as to whether it will be accepted. I'll just have to read the fine print on all those submission guidelines. Great point about being able to put it out as both poetry and flash fiction!

Many thanks,
Luci

 

[scarletpeaches]

I'm afraid I must contradict you there, KTC. If a piece of work is made up of words that don't rhyme and/or have no form, you have prose and the piece is taxed under the Worldwide Poetryshouldrhymeandhaveform Act of 1683, section 4 subsection 7aii.

This act was enforced by a gang of hardcore poetry enthusiasts who alleged that "People who write prose have no business calling themselves poets. What they need is a rhyming dictionary and a good kick up the arse."

This is a true story, and I hope it helps you.

 

[scarletpeaches]

You have no legs!

 

[Godfather]

that doesn't rhyme.

 

[Ralyks]

Well, "prose poetry" is of course an oxymoron. I have yet to find any so-called "prose poetry" I much like. Anything that can qualify as good "prose poetry," however, could probably make just as good a paragraph lodged in a story somewhere.

 

[Zonk]

Wasn't it Frost who said that writing freeverse poetry was like playing tennis without a net?

 

[Ultra]

Read Zbigniew Herbert and Matthea Harvey and then come back and tell me that there's no such thing as prose poetry. I will then argue that you're illiterate; their prose poems are some of the finest poems available to us as readers.

 

[scarletpeaches]

See...proof that prose poetry exists.

Damn. You got me.