Perfectly Poetic is a podcast that digs into poetry from every angle—classic, modern, obscure, and everything in between. Hosted by Allen Mowery, it’s a show for the curious and the critical, exploring the meaning, context, and cultural weight behind the lines. It’s not about idolizing poets or pretending every poem is profound. It’s about engaging with language, questioning assumptions, and finding unexpected insight in verse—whether it moves you, annoys you, or leaves you wondering why it exists.
Ep. 87 — Seventeen Syllables of Suffering: The Haiku Scam
Tired of people calling 17 syllables “genius”? So am I.
In this brutally honest, occasionally unhinged episode of Perfectly Poetic, Allen Mowery finally unleashes his pent-up frustration about the most overrated poetic form of all time: the haiku. From childhood worksheet trauma to seasonal name-dropping, syllable policing, AI-generated nonsense, and the myth of Bashō's frog — no stone (or smooth river pebble) is left unskipped.
Prepare yourself for frogs, fury, and the poetic equivalent of vending machine sushi.
Spoiler: There’s a haiku at the end. And it’s not about coffee.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Why your third-grade haiku assignment was emotional sabotage
The true history of haiku (and how we butchered it)
Bashō’s frog poem — misunderstood or overhyped?
The tyranny of 5-7-5 and the myth of morae
Why “deep” isn’t the same as “short”
Haikus on dating profiles, bumper stickers, and coffee shop chalkboards
Allen’s Haiku Manifesto for the modern world
AI haikus vs. human ones: can you tell the difference?
A few delightfully petty haikus written out of spite
Why we should demand more from poetry — and ourselves
Quote from the Episode:
“A haiku is not profound just because it’s small. It’s not a bonsai tree — it’s usually just a dead branch with a filter on it.”
Mentioned or Referenced:
Matsuo Bashō
Nick Virgilio
Jack Kerouac
3rd grade teachers everywhere
Haiku bots (yes, they’re real and yes, they’re terrifying)
Connect with the Show:
🌐 Website: perfectlypoetic.com (https://perfectlypoetic.com)
📸 Instagram: @perfectlypoeticpodcast (https://instagram.com/perfectlypoeticpodcast)
📬 Email: poetic@perfectlypoetic.com
📺 YouTube: @perfectlypoeticpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@perfectlypoeticpodcast)
9 Jul 2025
Ep. 86 — Feelings Are Not Facts: Romanticism’s Reckoning
Allen Mowery analyzes Romanticism's paradox, questioning when feelings become facts and exploring poets like T.S. Eliot who resisted emotional freefall, ultimately advocating for truth over fleeting emotions.
2 Jul 2025
Ep. 85 — Storms, Stars, and Self-Destruction: The Dark Side of Romanticism
This episode explores the darker side of Romanticism, analyzing themes of emotional obsession, terror, and melancholy in the works of Charlotte Dacre, Novalis, and Matthew Lewis.
25 Jun 2025
Ep. 84 — Swooning, Sobbing, and Rose Petals: Romanticism Deserves a Timeout
Host Allen analyzes 19th-century Romantic poems by Lord Byron, Felicia Hemans, Thomas Moore, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, and Percy Shelley, connecting their melodramatic themes to modern dating culture and emotional projections.
18 Jun 2025
Ep. 83 — Big Feelings, Stormy Skies: Welcome to Romanticism
This episode explores the Romanticism literary movement, revealing how poets like Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, and Byron transformed intense emotions and nature into impactful art, resonating with raw vulnerability even today.
11 Jun 2025
Ep. 82: Poe’s Loner Anthem
Host Allen Mowery analyzes Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Alone," exploring themes of childhood alienation, emotional isolation, and the poet's signature melancholy, revealing how feeling different connects us through poetry.
13 Aug 2022
Ep. 81: Love Conquers [Some]
This episode explores poems by NATHAN ROBERTS and ANNE BOLEYN, revealing how love inspires both beautiful verses and mournful reflections, demonstrating that love's strength does not guarantee victory.
31 Jul 2022
Ep. 80: The Darkness of Tragedy Gives Way to Hope – Horatio Gates Spafford
Horatio Gates Spafford faces immense tragedy and financial ruin, yet finds hope and peace, leaving a legacy of humanitarian efforts and the enduring hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul."
10 Jul 2022
Ep. 79: A Life of Heartache – Edgar Allan Poe
This episode explores the tragic life of Edgar Allan Poe and examines how his grief and mental illness fueled the creation of iconic American verses like "Alone" and "Spirits of the Dead."
25 Jun 2022
Ep. 78: "The Marshes of Glynn" – Sidney Lanier
Sidney Lanier's poem "The Marshes of Glynn," written shortly before his death, vividly portrays the peace and calm he discovered amidst the marshes while battling personal demons and a terminal illness.
21 Jun 2022
Ep. 77: Juneteenth Special – John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier's 1865 poem "Laus Deos!" celebrates the abolition of slavery and envisions a hopeful future for the United States.
18 Jun 2022
Ep. 76: "In Memoriam, Epilogue" – Alfred Lord Tennyson
Alfred Lord Tennyson's "In Memoriam, Epilogue" provides closure to his notable work, reflecting on loss and existentialism while celebrating his sister's marriage.
12 Jun 2022
Ep. 75: Hope & Meaning of Life – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poetry explores hope and meaning in life, suggesting purpose beyond ourselves brings meaning to existence.
12 Jun 2022
Ep. 74: Mortality & Fragility of Spirit – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems explore mortality and the delicate nature of the human spirit, ultimately revealing a sense of hope.
12 Jun 2022
Ep. 73: Sorrow & Beauty – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems, "The Reaper and the Flowers" and "Flowers," explore the intertwined themes of sorrow and beauty found in nature.
Who has been a guest on Perfectly Poetic
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Allen Mowery
NATHAN ROBERTS
ANNE BOLEYN
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
422
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
90
YouTube
64
Engagement
0
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