# Poll: Do you, as a woman, like poetry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823 "2014-03-16T06:41:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gateway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dbc845/32.png) [@Gateway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gateway)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/1 "2014-03-16T06:41:24Z")
The title pretty much says it all. Do you like it (moresoe then just any regular thoughtful gift) if a guy writes you a touching poem? (PS the poll should say ‘in general’ and not ‘any’ ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/2 "2014-03-16T16:38:06Z")
The only time I can remember someone writing me a poem as a gift was when I was a teenager…and the writer was an older man in whom I had no romantic interest. So that was unfortunately more creepy than heartwarming. As with any gift, I’d say the recipient’s response to a poem is going to vary a lot depending on how they feel about the giver as well as the quality/characteristics of the gift itself. A lousy poem, no matter how heartfelt, probably isn’t going to impress the recipient more than a gift that reflected similar thoughtfulness but better skill/taste. It would also be embarrassing for the recipient to feel obligated to say “Thank you, how sweet!” when she’s really thinking “Wow, I had no idea you were a [Vogon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogon#Poetry).” A _good_ poem could potentially be a lot more touching than flowers or a nice scarf or whatever, although there’s still the possibility that the recipient isn’t really into poetry to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/3 "2014-03-16T16:51:03Z")
> [@Gateway](#): > > The title pretty much says it all. Do you like it (moresoe then just any regular thoughtful gift) if a guy writes you a touching poem? > (PS the poll should say ‘in general’ and not ‘any’ Those are actually three different questions. The title asks if I like poetry. Yes, some, I enjoy a lot. But then you ask if I’d like it if a guy writes me a poem as much as another thoughtful gift. I guess the answer is maybe, but not necessarily. But you also have the question without the parenthetical statement: (more so than just any regular thoughtful gift). Would I like it if a guy writes me a touching poem, then I’m back to yes again. So, there you go. Helpful? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/4 "2014-03-16T17:04:43Z")
If a friend wrote something just for me and it was obvious they weren’t taking themselves too seriously and it was done in a humorous way, I would love it. Even if the rhymes were awful. If it was a deep emotional thing that I couldn’t make heads or tails out of, and it was presented to me in a serious way, then I’d probably be weirded out. I don’t know enough about poetry to distinguish “good” or “bad”. I’m afraid to say that if it doesn’t make feel good, I probably wouldn’t like it. I’m not a fan of poetry, though. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/5 "2014-03-16T17:07:03Z")
Is your name Robert Frost? No? then your poem is not touching and heartfelt, it is lame and cheesy. I guarantee it. Also, if you know me, you know its not possible to write me a poem and for it to be a thoughtful gift. It’s a contradiction. signed, “hates poetry in general, and heartfelt poetry in particular” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/6 "2014-03-16T17:10:10Z")
I like some poetry. No one has ever written a real poem for me, so unless the writer was really talented, I’d probably hate whatever it was. Even if you’re a master of rhythm and rhyme, that doesn’t make you a poet. As a result, I didn’t vote, since there’s no clear answer to the question. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/7 "2014-03-16T17:15:52Z")
I love poetry. Poetry is a big deal in my life. If someone wrote me a goofy bit of doggerel, it would make me laugh. If they made a serious effort at a serious poem and I liked the person, it would be a nice gift because it’s fun for me when people try to tackle poetry in a serious, thoughtful way, even when the results aren’t necessarily superb. If it was someone I didn’t like, or the content just felt creepy/oversharing/too intimate, then I would be uncomfortable. If someone thinks they can never read poetry, have no engagement with the art, and just dash off something and I will swoon over their poetic brilliance, well, that’s not likely. At all. I’d recommend against it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/8 "2014-03-16T18:30:19Z")
Because I have a visceral aversion to doggerel, unlikely to appreciate it unless the guy is a bonafide poet. I’ve had this happen, once. A long time ago. I believe the majority of women do not loathe doggerel and would be charmed by the intention. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/9 "2014-03-16T19:07:43Z")
As long as the guy isn’t an asshole, I appreciate anything… goofy, overly sentimental dreck, you name it. I may not understand it much, but it’s always fun giving it a shot. And yes, the poems I’ve been given over the years, of varying degrees of “good,” I’ve cherished. I think they’re all cool. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/10 "2014-03-16T19:22:16Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > As long as the guy isn’t an asshole, I appreciate anything… goofy, overly sentimental dreck, you name it. I may not understand it much, but it’s always fun giving it a shot. And yes, the poems I’ve been given over the years, of varying degrees of “good,” I’ve cherished. I think they’re all cool. Y’know, this is really nicely said. I change my answer to this one. ---
**Author:** ![Gateway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dbc845/32.png) [@Gateway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gateway)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/11 "2014-03-17T02:34:40Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > So, there you go. Helpful? 😃 Yes, I think you and a lot of other answerers on here are helpful also, so thank you all for posting. I also get the feeling that this board generally has a higher standard when it comes to poetry (not that that’s a bad thing) ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/12 "2014-03-18T00:45:19Z")
My husband used to write me dirty limericks when we were first dating. I thought they were hilarious. Like others in this thread, if he wrote me a poem of any sort, I would cherish it because of his intent, regardless of the actual quality of the poem. Back in my single days, if a dude I wasn’t dating had given me a poem, I probably would have been weirded out. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/13 "2014-03-18T01:59:42Z")
Fuck no, get it away from me. I’d rather my boyfriend do the dishes for me. Flowers, cool. Chocolate, yay! Poetry, kill it with fire. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/14 "2014-03-18T02:39:02Z")
There’s only one poem in the world that I’ve encountered that I actually enjoy. It’s about killing people in a war, for reference. So no, I would not like a gift poem. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/15 "2014-03-18T02:45:23Z")
I voted no, because there’s only a snowball’s chance in hell that the bloke is Robert Burns or an equivalent. Some people are born to poetry. The rest had better go in for what comes easy. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/16 "2014-03-18T11:23:29Z")
I like it a lot. So does my GF. I have written poems for her, but only after we were already together, and I’m a decent poet - can’t say how good the poems I’ve written for my GF are, but they’re not hallmark cheese. I wrote a poem for an ex once too, and she loved it. My other long-term GF, however, would have hated it if I’d written a poem for her. It’s definitely not a good idea to write a poem for someone you’re not absolutely certain is already in love with you. Then it comes across as creepy. Humorous poems excepted. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/17 "2014-03-18T12:24:12Z")
Would it change any of your minds if they were all incredibly low effort haikus? This is a haiku About my love for you, girl Five seven five… shit No? Well… I’ll be off then because screw all of you. Terrible low-effort English-language haikus that spit in the face of their traditional characteristics are **the best things ever invented**. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/18 "2014-03-18T12:36:00Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Would it change any of your minds if they were all incredibly low effort haikus? > > This is a haiku > About my love for you, girl > Five seven five… shit > > No? Well… I’ll be off then because screw all of you. Terrible low-effort English-language haikus that spit in the face of their traditional characteristics are **the best things ever invented**. That would fall under the category of humorous poems. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/19 "2014-03-18T12:55:47Z")
Roses are red, violets are blue This poll is stupid And sexist ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823/20 "2014-03-18T13:38:46Z")
I wish I liked poetry. But unless it’s making fun of itself (or is set to music, thereby becoming lyrics), I can barely stomach it. Reading it causes my eyes to glass over it. And when listening to it, sometimes I feel like picking up a chair and throwing it into a window. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-as-a-woman-like-poetry/683823.md?page=2)