What's so bad about Emo poetry?

Hmmmmm....

I think you're all generalizing this.

I think that there you can't just say "emo poetry is this, emo poetry is that", blah blah blah. First explain to us your definiton of emo poetry.

My definition of emo poetry is that it's usually very Latin or Greek, does not follow a particular rhyme scheme, has an unusual rhythm, and is rather interesting to read. I love reading emo poetry.

I do hate, however, poetry like
"And my heart fell inside my body
My voice is gone fro screaming;
Life is too hard for me to live,
Now where is the effing knife?"

Etc. etc.

So please don't stereotype.

I do hate, however, poetry like
"And my heart fell inside my body
My voice is gone fro screaming;
Life is too hard for me to live,
Now where is the effing knife?"

^ and my definition of emo poetry is like what you provided above. Overly emotional. I honestly don't believe I'm stereotyping here.

My definition of emo poetry is that it's usually very Latin or Greek, does not follow a particular rhyme scheme, has an unusual rhythm, and is rather interesting to read. I love reading emo poetry.

^ most of what you've defined here is poetry in general: rhythm, rhyme, interesting aspects, those are generally part of all poetry. I'm not sure what you mean by Latin and Greek; do you mean it derives from classical poetry of those origins?

Um, gadi, are you sure you aren't thinking of Gothic poetry? Because I don't think anyone here disagrees with Gothic poetry.

Chocoholic, I agree with you that the term "emo" gets thrown around too much, and I realize that poetry that is dark or expresses sorrow isn't necessarily emo. I associate "emo" with whiny, unoriginal and cliche. However, I don't t label poetry that's dark or depressing as emo if the poem is actually unique and expresses sorrow in a fresh way without overused phrases and imagery.

Going on what Fireweed said...if a person was sad because something really bad happened to him--perhaps he was mourning for a loved one--I wouldn't label that person "emo". There's a difference between emo and sad, and I think most of us recognize that. People who write emo poetry are likely sad or frustrated; they're just not very good at expressing it.

Emo poetry is bad because it sends me spiraling into unfathomable depths of despair that cause me to fear I will never escape from their malicious, mercilous clutches to see the sun again. And my soul weeps.

Areida wrote:Emo poetry is bad because it sends me spiraling into unfathomable depths of despair that cause me to fear I will never escape from their malicious, mercilous clutches to see the sun again. And my soul weeps.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

*much applause*

If an emo poem sent me to the depths of despair and shattered my soul, that would be an effective poem, an ineffective one would be self indulgent attention seeking cliches. Emo for emo's sake doesn't work. Sorrow and tragedy are universal human experiences, if you think because some girl dumped you you know suffering and the more than one billion people without access to clean water don't, your whinging means very little as it has no perspective.

But likewise, other poetry genres face similar a spectrum of crapness.
Who hasn't read a syrupy love poem that sent them into a diabetic coma, a limerick that had no punchline, a turgid ballad or a horrible haiku.

One thing can be said about all of them: at least they aren't Australian bush poetry... **shudders**

I personally think that it's too easy to just write about blood and dark and fire. And I mean just blood and dark and fire. You lose my respect when you fail to give a reason besides vague personal loss. If you're just feeding me those shadowy corners of your soul, I feel queasy. Give me some context, and I'll cry with you.