What is a good poem to you?  

I have been writing poems since I was in grade school. At first reading about other writer's works. Then from the books we read from school, to the magazines and newspaper. There are a lot of styles and admittedly, I didn't get the chance to learn all of them. I just love the way they rhyme and sometimes count the syllables and how they are uniformly written. Like a puzzle, it amuses me as well as it intrigues me. The title would be the first thing to catch my attention, so I think that content matters a lot. If you can't get the reader to stick to it, then you won't be able to make them read your work. I don't think I am qualified to say that I can tell when a poem is written by a professional poet. Because for all I know, a six year old can make a fantastic haiku. As long as the writer conveys his/her thoughts to the reader and make one feel how he/she is feeling at the time, I would say that that was a well spent read. After all, us writers have a strange way of thinking about the things around us and only through poetry, we try to make our best efforts for our feelings to be known. As I end this, i want to share a simple poem to you.

I write as I think, but I think differently.
I say how I feel, but my thoughts betray me.
I live as I learn form all the things i see.
And I write once again, because I love it.

For me a good poem is a good poem..The content or the thoughts of the writer matters a lot and if that is conveyed well to me then rhyming doesn't matter..I have always read lots of poems and many of them were not rhyming..Have a nice day!

I'd like to study different types of poetry when I can find the time. I do write a haiku diary which I post in my Writelink blog every month. What is necessary for me to enjoy a poem is rhythm, whether it is in blank verse or rhyming stanzas. And I am impressed by a creative and unusual use of language, words, metaphor etc. Almost anything goes in poetry writing these days, so preference is always subjective. I suppose poets are professional when they have been published and paid. but there are thousands of good poets out there that have never achieved that.

To me a poem that is good.....is written as a gift to the reader..something to remember or pass along. It really doesn't matter what the format contains...as long as it has a story. I really do not enjoy poetry I have to disect in order to figure out what the poet is trying to say..I read and write it for enjoyment. I don't like far out verse, I don't like complicated verse....I like something that sticks in my mind as something that can attribute a lasting affect in my life.

A good poem for me, is the one that inspires and makes you read again.. It reveals in you a sense of satisfaction and divulges in you more different meanings and enthusiasm whenever your read it.

The feelings of joy and satisfaction that one derives after reading a good poem must be like the taste of the Sugar candy that keeps lingering in your mouth even after you finished eating the Candy. It should give you happiness and joy when you read...and must remain in you after you finished reading.. like the taste of the candy.

Take care friend and have good day.

For me content is more appealing than its rhyme. I like a poem where expressions/emotions float freely without being tied up too much by rhyme.

I think it depends on what you are in the mood for. Different poetry can be good at different times. I don't much like form poetry but I'm writing a sestina now as part of a competition. Its really challenging, and makes me think. Still,at heart, I'll always be a free verse girl.