Thread: Why doesn't poetry make efficient use of language?

Many poems could be summed up in a few sentences that could directly tell the audience what it is about, so why write a poem that is so convoluted and long.

most poems have multiple meanings in every word- take edgar allen poe for instance. in every sentence there is various meaning- why make it short and simple when you can make it deep and meaningful?

Because it would defeat the purpose of the poem. Poetry seeks to embrace the medium of language and play with its possibilities, ultimately to get an emotional response out of the reader. You can't do that with a few blunt, simple sentences.

It's like saying, why play music when you can summarize most every song with the words 'Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus'? Because music makes you FEEL something, and that feeling is really all that matters.

Is this a serious question?

To express oneself.