Title + Form

Literary Trends

I’ve noticed a trend. Perhaps you have, too?

Poets writing in form, will sometimes title their poem [Poem Title] [Form].

For example:

“Cold Moon Haibun”

“Nature Sestina”

I find this… odd… and unnecessary. How is this serving the reader?

Does the reader need to know your poem is a haibun (if they are not already familiar with the form and how it tends to visually appear on the page)?

I’m saying “trend” because I wonder if it’s a passing phase. Though, I worry it’s a lack of confidence in the reader’s ability to do their own research and/or have the cognitive wherewithal to determine the form without choosing cognitive offload to a chatbot search. Is this the fear? That reading will be interrupted by searching?

Another example:

Imagine Elizabeth Bishop’s famous poem “One Art” was instead titled “One Art Villanelle”.

Seems a bit silly, doesn’t it?

Have you noticed this trend? What do you think? Do you think it will age poorly or that it’s of little significance?