Thread: Who's The Hardest Poet To Understand?

For me it was John Keats. But after probably 10 years or re-reading his poetry, I think I got it. I love them. ALL the ODES especially! But now, its Dereck Walcott...HE'S HARD TO CRACK!

Try T.S. Eliot.

Yeah, definitely Eliot. The Waste Land and The Hollow Men in particular had me scratching my head for ages.

elliot, burroughs and blake are the hardest i reckon

Margaret Atwood for a little while until T.S Eliot came along and made Atwood look like childs play.

Originally Posted by The Hooded One

Margaret Atwood for a little while until T.S Eliot came along and made Atwood look like childs play.

Erm, except that Eliot died before Atwood was barely published and he published his most famous, and the majority of his works, before she was born.
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Anyway, since I'm here - along with Eliot, his contemporary Ezra Pound is pretty impervious.

Obviously he was talking about the order in which he read them.

John Keats? Well, I guess the fact that it was written so long ago might make it harder to get...

Yeah, T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound for sure.

Dereck Walcott? The name does sound familiar. Is he the Caribbean Poet, 1992 Nobel Prize Winner or something? I think I have a collection of his work. You are right, if it's the same poet we are talking about, he is difficult because his works deals alot with the lifestyle and experience of the Caribbean and its people;from slavery to emancipation, so it may be difficult to grasp if you are unfamiliar with his past. Perhaps reading abit of his background may help.

Keats is a genius. He may be difficult for some, that's true. Best ROMANCE poet there was, if you ask me. Besides Shakespeare.

TS Eliot, I read most of his poems in High School, he wasn't too hard. I think poetry is all about perception anyways. There is no answer for your question, everyone reads and sees it differently. What one person may think is straightforward another one might not.

Ezra Pound--Yes. Hard.

Originally Posted by dotcom

TS Eliot, I read most of his poems in High School, he wasn't too hard. I think poetry is all about perception anyways. There is no answer for your question, everyone reads and sees it differently. What one person may think is straightforward another one might not.

Ezra Pound--Yes. Hard.

I'm impressed you were able to understand all of Eliot's allusions while you were still in High School.

He may be thinking of George Eliot.

Originally Posted by Hodge

He may be thinking of George Eliot.

I doubt it... buuut, it's possible...

George Eliot's mainly known for her novels.

I read TS Eliot back when I was in High School as well. It was one of the poetry books I needed to read. I thought he was fairly easy (with the guidance of my teacher though). I did end up getting an A in the course. Since then I haven't read any of his poems. But I don't remember them being soo hard.

Walcott...Yup he won the Nobel Prize in the 90's. I have a collection of his too...DIFFICULT!

The odes by Keats were kind of hard for me. But yes, they are all excellent. There is no doubt Keats is one of the best Romance poet there is.

I really don't understand how people can find Keats difficult but Eliot easy, unless they didn't read "The Waste Land" or "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

"The Hollow Men" is an easy read, so maybe they all read that...

Originally Posted by Hodge

I really don't understand how people can find Keats difficult but Eliot easy, unless they didn't read "The Waste Land" or "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

"The Hollow Men" is an easy read, so maybe they all read that...

Yeah, that one is easy... That may be it... because Keats...I mean...when I think difficult poets, Keats is somewhere at the bottom of the list.

If you understood "The Wasteland" in High School, then congratulations, you are a friggin genius.