Even better than a paid mainstream cultural critic who must professionally adhere to the popular mindset and blow with the winds of medium brain opinion, reddit has unsullied truth to offer. Disinterested in popular thought, ripe with truth and appreciation of beauty.
Your regular big newspaper writer has no interest in getting to the crux of the matter as that would cause alarm to readers and get them sacked. Cruxes are an anathema to journalists who see them in their nightmares and the corner of their eyes, knowing they exist but fearful of mentioning them lest the results.
Reddit boldly speaks:
CynicalProfessor16
I actually like some of her poetry and I admire her. But I have to admit I thought this was not a very good poem. It was filled with cliches, weird alliterations, prosaic observations, disconnected metaphors, etc. Maybe part of her life task was not just to write a poem but to say things that strike the heart of many, many of whom might not have much grasp of poetry. In that case, she clearly succeeded. But I think most teachers of poetry would give this a B+ or A- at the undergraduate level and a C at the grad level. But I can’t find anyone who seems to agree without coming from a more “conservative” political agenda. I love her message. I just thought it was a terribly mediocre poetry at best. I dunno. I do think there’s something nice and beautiful about it upon reading, so maybe that’s enough
I mean that if I randomly read this poem in a book one day, not knowing who recited it and when, I’d think it was pretty mediocre, certainly not worthy of all the ooohs and aaahs and “say her names.” I’m very happy that Gorman is getting recognition and seeing success and that the public has been moved by a poem, whatever the reasons. But i just don’t think the poem itself is all that. It’s faddish and light and i don’t expect it to stand the test of history. Again, only my opinion and judging by the downvotes obviously unpopular.
ps That Was From Reddit