There is a certain kind of lyrical writing that I really hate; I call it "My mother was a swan" writing.

Almost every poet that I know is afflicted, to some degree, with 'poetry voice:' a form of speaking that's characterized by an even volume, even pace, and a steady rise and fall in tone. For an example, listen to the following recording.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5H7l9jEkY]

Anyway, it's not the poets' fault. They're taught to read poems t…