Finding good poetry

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There is certain structure which thoughts expressed in the form of poetry have that lends it a special beauty. And sadly this is one reason bad/average poetry can masquerade to uncritical readers as masterpieces.
(Here I'm not talking of those broad poetry frameworks or genres which MAs in English are taught, it's beyond that and much subtler)

If one has learnt to feel between the poet's lines, he/she will see that many poets (even some of the celebrated ones) use a set piece-structure and peddle thoughts which would otherwise be pedestrian. The genius lies in the structure, it deserves all the credit. But in most cases that is borrowed. The true content stripped of that structure is ordinary.

It is a useful skill, if one is looking for a long-term source of really good poetry, to be able to understand early, if the beauty emnating is due to the structure or the stripped content. When the major reason is structure, the beauty will last only till the marginal effects set it. Generally one suffers this natural realisation only after investing time and emotional energy, and then it is even more disappointing. (Many Rehman fans get a hang of his set pieces after years of addiction and then, suddenly all his music sounds similar...I have to admit though, his set pieces are a class apart and most music directors aren't even close)

Anyway this allows dead ordinary poems to slip through as a masterpieces (riding on the back of first time reads of readers, who get that realisation after reading more of that poetry).

So if you're looking for a long term source of good poetry (if it's a one or two time affair, don't bother) learn to feel the structure unless you're used to getting disappointed (and rejected
eh :-))