Our Introduction to Poetry

Nursery rhymes were our earliest exposure to poetry. Mothers and fathers have repeated them so often that children soon learn to say them, too. Mother Goose books are almost a must for every small child. Many of the rhymes have been set to music so we sing them as well as recite.

Children get a little older, go to school and learn rhymes to recite when jumping rope. It was mostly a girls' activity, so I'm guessing it's my women readers who can bring several to mind. Here's one we used often:

Down in the valley,

Where the green grass grows.

There sat Nancy 

Sweet as a rose

Along came Michael

And kissed her on the cheek.

How many kisses

Did she get? 

(And next, I would have to jump until I missed while the other girls counted)

Still in grade school, we moved on to rhymes to sign other girls' autograph books.  Ones like:

You are

 2 good

2 be true

(Then we signed our name beneath the rhyme)

Who can forget one of our early ventures into poetry with the following poem (and variations thereof)?

Roses are red,

Violets are blue, 

Sugar is sweet,

And so are you

All of these 'poems' had one thing in common. They rhymed. Besides that, the poems had a rhythm, almost sing-song for some. There have even been drinking rhymes composed, with mug in hand, most likely. 

We studied poetry in junior and senior high school. They were longer and somewhat difficult to interpret, but most of them rhymed. Unless you were an English major and took more than the basic English courses, you probably didn't become familiar with free verse or the Japanese forms either. 

My favorite poetry to write is free verse. There needs to be no rhyme or specific rhythm. You're free to write what is in your heart, what you want to tell the world. You're not hampered by all the other specifics. It's the kind of poetry all of us can write. Yes, you too. 

Even in free verse, we have some concerns. Choice of words is important. Active verbs show while passive ones do not. We also consider things like alliteration, onomatopoeia, and senses to bring the poem to life. Similes and metaphors enter the picture, too. Not sure what some of these are, check them out on your favorite search engine.

If you're a prose writer, have you attempted to write free verse poetry? Give it a try. It's not that difficult, and you might find you enjoy it. I learned that the more I wrote, the more I wanted to keep going. You don't need formal training (although I'm sure it helps) to write free verse. I say that from my own experience.

During this National Poetry Month, think about the place poetry has played in your life, from early childhood on. If you're one who claims you 'don't like poetry,' make an effort to read some this month, reading with an open mind. No one is going to like all poetry, just as no one likes every kind of prose. We try this and that until we find what we like. 

I saw a sign in a gift shop once that amused me. It said:  Wine is poetry in a bottle. That probably appeals only to those who sip wine now and then.

Celebrate this National Poetry Month by reading some poetry. Read a poem more than once. Once is merely an introduction. With each reading, you'll see something more in the poem.

 

Musing On Poetry

 

Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson--Poets of Yesteryear

April is National Poetry Month, and I've been a bit remiss in not mentioning it until now. Tomorrow is National Put a Poem in Your Pocket Day. Every year, we hear people moan and groan about poetry. I've heard comments like Not for me! Who reads poetry? And why? I just don't get poetry. Too highbrow for me. High School made me dislike poetry--all that memorizing!

A lot more people would enjoy poetry if they gave it a chance. If they would read it without a preconceived notion that they are not going to like it. Will you like every poem you read? Of course not. You don't like every story or essay you read. Certain parts of all writing appeals to us, or it doesn't. Please don't make a statement saying you don't like poetry until you do a little exploration and give it a chance. 

The Huh? Factor:  There are poems that make sense only to the poet. When we were in high school, we were required to read a certain amount of poetry and tear it apart bit by bit until we understood what the poet was telling us. It didn't always work, did it? I remember reading a poetry assignment, deciding what it was about, and then having the teacher go a completely opposite direction the next day. Many times.

Over the years, I grew to like reading and writing poetry as did many others. There is beauty in the words. In the thoughts of a poet. In the poems that have become beloved over many years. Poets like the two shown here today will be remembered for the poems they wrote that appealed to readers. They, and other poets, wrote about nature and love and sorrow and so many more areas of life. 

What kind of poetry do you like? Sonnets, Asian forms, rhyming, narrative, free verse, acrostic, or some other? There are complicated forms and very simple ones. I've never had any training in writing poetry so I stay with the simple kinds. I can write free verse, a rhyming poem, a narrative, but that's about it for me. I know poets who write all kinds of more complicated forms. Know and also admire them.

My state writing organization sponsors an annual writing contest in Prose and Poetry. The Poetry category has several subsections to enter. There are many poetry contests which can be found using your favorite search engine online. 

Some poets write in hopes of publication, preferably paid publication, while others write poetry only for themselves and perhaps a small group of family and friends. Either way is fine. It's your choice. 

Before you write poetry, read it. Read a lot of it. Don't read only the famous poets, but also lesser known names. I could list several here whose names I know because I have read their work, but you may never have heard of them. Search for poetry collections in bookstores and at your local library. When you read a poetry collection, it is not necessary to read cover to cover all at once. Read it that way if you like, opr read in bits and pieces. Go back and read the ones that appeal the most to you.

That brings me to another thought. Reading a poem once and moving on doesn't allow you to absorb the message or the beauty or the thought behind the poem. Read a poem several times. The more you read, the more you see, the more you understand, and maybe the more you like it. 

If you're not familiar with the two poets I have named here today. Do a little research on each one, and read some of their poetry. Then try to find the works of more modern poets like Maya Angelou or Amanda Gorman, the young poet who read her work at our last presidential inauguration. 

Put a little poetry in your life. Poetry is feelings put into words. Read it. Write it. Enjoy it.Tomorrow, you might even want to put a poem in your pocket along with myriad numbers of people.

Writing and Reading Poetry

Many prose writers also write poetry, myself included. Why make such a leap from lengthy prose to a few (or more) lines of poetry? 

One reason is that it is a welcome change from writing a thousand or more words in an essay or thousands of words in a novel. It's also a way to express your feelings and beliefs, your reaction to present-day happenings or to something beautiful that you observed. 

We can also read poetry as a break from reading full-length books. We read it for the beauty in the words, the images we are exposed to, and to learn the thoughts of the poets. 

Sometimes a poem is quite puzzling. We read it, then read it again and ask ourself What was that all about? There are poems which have meaning only for he/she who wrote it. In that case, we can still appreciate the words and images. Other poems have meanings that are quite clear. 

When you read a poem, don't read through it once and move on. Read it again or maybe three times. I always see more the second and third time. It's like watching a movie twice. I find that the second time around I see so many little things not noticed on the first viewing. 

we have naysayers who profess to not like poetry. I wonder if those people might begin to like it if they gave poetry a chance if they're willing to read more than one poem. I'd ask them to try reading a poem a day for a month and see if their attitude has changed any. 

I hope that young parents read poetry to their children from an early age. Many picture books are very poetic, and, of course, there are nursery rhymes. Immerse little children into poetry, and perhaps they'll find it easier to enjoy as an adult.

The poster photo above mentions Famous Poems. Are there some you especially like? A few that I like are:

• In Flander's Fields
• Fog (Carl Sandburg)
• The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)
• Moonstain (Ronda Miller)
• I'm NobodyWho Are You? (Emily Dickinson)
• The Raven (Edgar Allan Poe)
• I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

All of the above are old and well-known poems except for Moonstain, which was written by a friend of mine. Her poem has stayed with me ever since reading it and is now a favorite.

If you've never tried writing any poetry, there is no time like the present to try. Free verse gives you free rein, no rhyme or specific meter to worry about. Just pour your heart out in a poem. 

Write it, read it--either one or both, but do give it a try. 

Poetry--Read It, Write It, Love It

Today is the last day of National Poetry. I used this poster early in the month to make readers aware of what we are celebrating all this month. So, it seemed appropriate to repeat it as we finish this time of recognizing, reading and writing poetry. 

It doesn't mean we should ignore the other eleven months of the year. Certainly not. Instead, it is hoped that the month of giving attention to poems and poets will inspire others to both read and write poetry. 

Do you have a favorite poet? Is it someone from ancient days or a contemporary? A person you know? Or just a poet you admire? 

I have several friends who write and publish poetry. I admire these people as they have no fear of releasing their innermost thoughts and feelings through their writing. They have a desire to share with others, and we readers are often the better for it. I have purchased the books listed below and have read them all more than once. Do read a poem multiple times. So much more comes through the second, third and fourth time. 

Books of poetry by people I know. Find some of them on Amazon. 

Moonstain by Ronda Miller

Music I Once Could Dance To by Roy J. Beckemeyer

Asparagus Roots by Jane Banning

Today, Fish Only by Miho Kinnas

The Museum Muse by Tom Mach

Stage Whispers by Roy J. Beckemeyer

So Runs The Water by Tom Mach

What do you notice about the titles? Each one piques interest; leaves a question or makes you a bit curious. It must be difficult to title a collection of poems. Some poets will use the title of one poem in the book. Others will use the title of a theme that runs through the many poems in the book. The next time you're in a bookstore, go to the poetry section and read the titles. Do some stand out for you more than others? Are there some that you want to remove from the shelf and leaf through? 

Have you ever read or heard a prose writer praised with a comment like His prose reads like poetry? A high honor indeed. 

We say farewell to National Poetry Month today, but I hope that you will make time to read or write some poetry the rest of the year, too. 

Thoughts On Poetry

The quote above is something actor, Robin Williams, said as John Keating in the film Dead Poets Society. The 1989 movie is about an English professor reaching out to his students. There were many worthwhile quotes in the movie. The one posted here today is one that stood out for lots of those who watched the movie.

When you read a quote, do read it more than once. Do the same when you read a poem. You see so much more the second time and the third and the fourth. One of the fine points of reading a book of poems is that you can read it multiple times and glean something new at each successive reading.

When you watch a movie for the second or third time, you notice small details that you had not taken note of on the initial viewing. It's the same with reading poetry.

This is National Poetry Month. Take some time to read some poems. Reread some of your favorites, or pick up something new to you. If you've never been a person who reads poetry, try it. I don't mean to skim through a book of poetry or a website with numerous poems featured. Instead, take your time and read it. Let the words reach you emotionally.

Read it slowly; then read it again. Does the poem affect you in any way? Does it bring visual images to mind? Do you see beauty in the way it flows? Is it strong? Does it bring out any emotion in you? Do you see the way the poet uses words to reach the reader?

If you write prose, have you ever attempted to write a poem? Do you need to take numerous courses to write a poem? No. Studying poetry can only be helpful, but it is not a necessity to taking pen in hand, or putting fingers to keyboard, to write one. Don't be overly concerned about the meter, rhythm or rhyme. Start with free verse. Prose writers can spread their wings and give poetry a try.

For me, the main ingredient of writing poetry is that you write from your heart. You release what is within. Have you ever witnessed a part of nature that is so beautiful you wish you could paint it? Or write a poem? Many have, but few act upon it. When the moment is gone, they move on to other things in life. I have learned to do something about it when I see anything that affects me and makes me want to write a poem. It might only be the first two to four lines that I write on a scrap of paper, but I've got it and can continue later. Reading those first lines brings back whatever it was I had witnessed and allows me to continue writing.

Have you ever had a vivid dream that might prompt a poem? I have. I had been to a poetry presentation at a writer's conference weeks earlier. The woman who spoke mentioned dreams being a good source for poets. She said The important thing is to act on it as soon as you wake up before the dream is lost. One night I dreamed about old gypsy women on a train. They were sewing and little gypsy girls were dancing in the aisles. I couldn't imagine what prompted the dream in the first place, but I got up, grabbed a robe and went straight to my computer. I already had the first two lines in my head. I wrote them and the rest flowed, line upon line. The poem has been published more than once, and it was used as a prompt for an abstract artist in Kansas City. I have no formal training in writing poetry, so, if I can do it, so can you. The poem, which turned out to be about aging, is below with a photo of the painting. I have used the poem before to illustrate a point, so some of you may have read it already.

play, gypsy girl, play

passengers on a train, gypsies
going nowhere; wheels kiss tracks
like passion-driven teens
as gypsy women dip needle and thread
into cheap and flimsy fabric,
fashion bits and pieces to sell.
pricked fingers bleed onto gingham
and voile, spit wipes it clean again.

little girls wear blue eye shadow,
swing immature hips and mimic
older sisters, thumb their nose at
mothers, aunties, and grans. too soon
they will sew, wiping blood spots
away but for now, let them frolic,
midnight eyes glittering with
mischief. too soon cares settle
on shoulders like a burlap shawl,
not noticed until the years pull it tight,
captive in a smothering embrace.

play, gypsy girl, play for the years
roll quickly by; shake your tawny locks,
clap your jeweled hands, twirl until your
skirt billows round umber knees,
laugh and sing, before the heavy mantle
of womanhood crushes girlish patter,
cares and woes etch themselves in
deep ridges on cheek and chin, shoulders curl
onto sagging breasts, veins make maps of legs,
thinning tresses turn to silver, eyes dull from anger
or sometimes fear, gaps where teeth
once looked like pearls on a string.

weathered faces watch young girls dance, needles
never still, minds spiraling backward. play,
gypsy girl, play before the years sit like a rock
on your heart. the train speeds
whistle whining, as gypsy women sew
and little girls see only tonight.

Painting by Jennifer Rivera and my poem at the Art Gallery in St. Joseph, MO

Today is World Poetry Day

Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.~Edgar Allan Poe

Today is World Poetry Day. Bet you didn't know that. I didn't either until I ran across the fact quite by accident. Made me wish I'd saved my post on Tom Mach's poetry book, The Museum Muse, until today. UNESCO created the day in 1999 to celebrate the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry. That's 15 years ago but it's not a day we circle on the calendar or look forward to, is it?

For those of us who write, be it prose or poetry, it should be a day of interest. Also  for people who enjoy reading poetry. I remember very little of what we were taught about poetry in grade school and high school. We were exposed to it but I had few teachers who helped me embrace either reading or writing it. The approach, as I remember, was more clinical in nature. We were given many poems to memorize but I have no memory of a teacher helping us see the beauty of some of the phrases in poems. If we were taught how to write poetry, it must have been on a day I was absent! 

Even so, I have written poetry, even had some published and won a contest with one. I cannot recite the techniques of writing poetry to you but I know what is in my heart and can put it into words on occasion. I don't write a lot of poetry and do so only when the mood moves me. A true poet gets moved to pen a poem on a regular basis. I guess I'm a 'sometimes' poet. 

I will admit that much of poetry remains a "Huh?" situation with me. I frequently wonder what some poets are attempting to convey. Some of the metaphors used can escape me until someone points them out to me. Besides that, there is much I enjoy in poetry. Because I'm a word person, I can pick out many phrases that are particularly beautiful or poignant and be satisfied with that. 

Many people have favorite poets. Did you ever ask yourself why certain poets appeal more to you than others?

If you've never read or written poetry, you should give it a try. Since today is World Poetry Day, read a poem or write one. Maybe more than one.