Ratings and a Challenge
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 64)
copyright 04-03-2003
Age Rating: 7 to 127
Ratings are totally meaningless until there are many. Please do not put too much faith in them until you see a large number of ratings. This is simply a statistical fact. That is why both the number of ratings and the average of those is shown. Please do not use ratings as a weapon. (I watch specifically for that.) Give honest ratings. Please don't give a high or low number to make up for low ratings by others. As enough ratings are made on a work, this will all even out.
Recently I saw one with ratings of 6,6,10,10. No doubt something is wrong there. It is obvious that two people are rating too high and two are rating too low. I suspect someone is trying to make up for a rating they feel is too high or too low... Don't... it upsets the system. I am in the process of adding statistical treatments to the ratings. Statistics cannot work on the above set of values, because someone is likely trying to skew the average. Please, leave the skewing to me. I will do it in a manner that is mathematically correct.
Ten should be reserved for a PERFECT work. Very, very little in this world is perfect. I usually rate a '9' or less, reserving 10 for the occasional work that is truly outstanding.
Free verse is one of the hardest forms of poetry. Why? Because poetry must have heavy impact and be memorable. Consider this one by a master:
"Double, double toil and trouble,
fire burn and caldron bubble."
(Shakespear, Macbeth)
There are several rhymes: double, trouble and bubble. Many of you might know those lines well. Why? The rhyme scheme helps immensely. The meter is perfect also, 8 syllables per line. It lives and breathes even to this day though it was written in the 1500's.
Shakespeare knew his stuff. Once one has the rules down, understands what makes great poetry, then free verse is an option. But many people try to do it simply because without rhyme it seems easier. Nothing could possibly be further from the truth. What usually suffers is impact. Very little free verse has impact.
Forms: There are many recognized forms and you can find most of them defined on our help pages. Make it a habit to visit there. You'll be surprised at how all your work improves when you start learning the forms.
Another help is on the main poetry pages. The forms are listed on the right and you can click on a form and it will filter the page and hence, show you examples. The bad part is that a few members checked every box. That is absurd. A poem cannot be both a villanelle and a sonnet any more than a fruit can be both an apple and an orange.
Next practice the form. Try to write a sonnet, a villanelle, haiku. By forcing yourself into a form you learn discipline. It may not be easy. You may find one form impossible for you. Try a different one then.
Help Us Stop Plagiarism -
Nearly all works at PnP are original. However a few people choose to plagiarize.
To check, choose a phrase from the work, then either drag and drop to the search box or copy and paste.
click on search and works at Google will be shown which match. Just to be sure, please do this before
you recommend or rate the work highly...
Shakespere rocks!
Sonnets do not rock!
I hate sonnets!
I don't know how to write one, people have expalined to me hundreds of times, but I can never get it down.
Free verse is actually incredibly hard. Especially if you try to make it as astonishing as the greats of that form did. (Would give examples, but being out of school, i don't feel the need to crack open my college book and find them out ^_^ Spring break).
see...I would try and do the whole sonnet challenge, except for the fact that the last time I tried to write one, I ended the poem in: "And this poem will now find the circle bin/Because it just keeps on sucking again and again." lol. I need more practice before having the guts to put one up on here!
I agree with Kay Lee on rating poems if a poem moves you if it is to anger, tears, whatever the poet made the impact of moving the reader.If it is clear to the reader what the writer is trying to portray. This is what I look for.
The problem with rating is that it is subjective,
and is driven by opinions and feelings ,, what one person
loves an other may hate, ( for what ever reason)
Perfection with poetry (for me) is when it
have made an emotional impact, and there is a
story or message revealed in a pleasing , or powerfull manner .
Others may not like this type of work.
I would worry more if a poem got eight rates
all eight, than getting a mix.
but then that's just me.
Rebuilding is slow,
we have a way to go.
But then this is just like life....just a journey, with no distantion.
Great perspective Bob. I will attempt the animal sonnet too. Btw, even though your article is perfect, I rated it a conservative 8. LOL! Actually, I knew it was not written to be rated, so had to kid you a little.
Welcome !
