Poet Voice

I just read an article and I’m not going to link to it for two reasons.  One, because I totally disagree with the premise and, two, because it’s been floating around facebook for a while so, if you are interested in poetry, especially if you write poetry, and double especially if you read at poetry readings, you’ve probably seen it already and,  if  you’re not interested in poetry, you probably couldn’t care less about the topic.

The premise was that poets tend to read their poems in ‘poet voice,’ which the author seemed to think was fake,  pompous and annoying.  How does he expect poets to read their poems?  In a doctor’s bedside manner voice?:  I’m afraid I have bad news for you.  Sit down, please.  So much depends upon the red wheelbarrow…. Perhaps in a policeman’s voice:  Give me your license and registration…the wretched refuse of your humble shore.  Perhaps he thinks we should speak more in a teacher’s voice:  I think that I shall never see (Johnny, pay attention, please) a poem as lovely as a tree.

My point is that since we are reading poems, of course we use ‘poet’s voice.’  Whatever voice we use  inherently adopts the definition.  Of course, I know the voice he means.  A little bit pretentious, kind of breathy and dramatic.  It’s why Shatner and Franco, out of all the dramatic actors out there, are the ones who like to read poetry out loud.

But, still, I see it as fair enough.  A poem is not a conversation.  When I’m on stage, reading something I’ve read, where I intend every  word to count, I don’t want to sound like I’m in a casual conversation with a friend, or making small talk with the checkout lady in the supermarket.  I want to emphasize each word, I want to have pauses at strategic points, I want to make the audience think what I want the audience to think.

The author seems to think that ‘poet voice’ is one of the reasons nobody likes poetry any more (except, of course,  for those of us who do).  He’s wrong, though.  The reason most people don’t  like poetry is because most of the poetry being written today sucks.  It’s got nothing to do with the voice.