Happy Sunday!! I'm still trying to decide if this week went by really quickly or really slowly because of the holiday on Wednesday. Anyway, here we are on Sunday!
Every month I tell myself that I'm going to join Kelly and Leslie's poetry project. And every month I forget! Apparently I'm not the only one because they've decided to revamp the project a bit. Head over to Kelly's blog to see the details as well as the monthly themes.
To start things off (again), they've asked a couple of questions.
Why do you want to join for the Poetry Project?
I enjoy reading poetry but am not very good at it. Well, of course anyone can read the words on the page but to read them and to glean any type of meaning are two different ideas. I assume that reading poetry becomes easier with practice but seems that poetry is one of those things that I always forget about. Like short stories.
Do you have a favourite poet?
I'm not sure that I've read enough poetry to claim a favorite poet. Most of my reading centers around the classic poetry that is taught in grade school and college. I've always been drawn to Walt Whitman.
Hopefully this will go longer than a year. Do you have any suggestions for themes?
I really love the War Remembrance poems idea! There are several from WWI that have always really interested me. Perhaps poems from different time periods? Renaissance, Harlem Renaissance, Classical, Reformation, Modern, etc.
What are your experiences with poetry in the past? Have they been positive or negative?
My experiences with poetry come from close reading in high school and college. I loved learning about poetry but this was always easier in a discussion forum where bits and pieces are discovered through discussion and background information. Sometimes I think of poems as little puzzles to be solved by fitting all of the pieces together. I don't always have the discipline to read closely on my own (whether poetry or not). Once upon a time I used to write a lot of poetry but I don't anymore and don't care to read what I've read in the past. Except for a kick-ass poem I wrote about being sick (it's not really kick-ass). Maybe I'll share one day.
Tell us about a poem or poet that has had a profound effect on you. If you can't think of a poem, how about a song? Or a line from a story?
A song. I've always loved the song Elsewhere by Sarah McLachlan.
I believe, this is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it, long as I can be
Left here to linger in silence
If I choose to, would you try to understand?
What frustrates you about poetry or the way we talk about poetry?
It isn't really a frustration--just a lack of talking about poetry in general. I know I'm not the only one who overlooks poetry! And doesn't really know how to talk about it.
Tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with poetry!
This time next week? I'll be in Maui baby!
What are you experiences with poetry? What's going on with you today?
Good luck with the project - I admire you for taking it on. Poetry and I don't always play nice.
ReplyDeleteI thought you tried this with another poetry meme...in fact, I did too and didn't survive. Or am I thinking of someone else? I don't think so, though. :P
ReplyDeleteUgh, I just do not like or get poetry at all! I think it is just over my head ;) Lol! Good luck! And I am so jealous of your Maui trip!!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to you poetry posts. I may even do one myself. I've a book of Elizabeth Bishops poetry I've been meaning to get around to....
ReplyDelete*Bermuda - I'm thinking if I put some on my ereader it might be easier to read.
ReplyDelete*Unfinished - Explained via twitter--same people hosting. Same thing, just a little more and less structure. Join us!
*Kim - LOL! I know how you feel about poetry being over your head. Just figure keep trying. Or something.
*CB James - I haven't read any Elizabeth Bishops but will check her out!
I once read an interview with a poet, (don't even remember which one) in which s/he said that often people read completely different things in the poetry than s/he actually wrote. And that was OK.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much poetry out there, and so many different kinds. Don't waste time on things you don't like. I think that is the real value of sites like poets.org and such. You can cruse the offerings and find what you love.
P.S.
Have a Mai Tai for me!
I can thank evil English teachers in my past for my dislike of most...in graduate school I finally met a couple of teachers who showed me that poetry could actually be enjoyed. I still have that first perception in the back of my head though.
ReplyDeleteI'm 100 pages into The Stand and loving it!! Can't put it down!! :)
I didn't know you used to write poetry! I used to write poetry too :) Not brave enough to share it but I have hundreds and hundreds of them in tons of notebooks :p Mostly from my teenage years. I'm a big walt whitman fan too :) So glad you're joining in!!!
ReplyDelete*Snowball - I think you're right that we all get something different from a reading of a poem. There might be certain truths but so much of poetry is personal. Thanks for the tip on poets.org!
ReplyDelete*Peppermint PhD - It's hard to get past the preconceived notions about poetry, huh? I wonder how that could be fixed in grade school? SO glad you're loving The Stand!!
*Chris - OH you know...the angsty teen stuff? ;) Stuff I don't want to get rid of but stuff I don't want to revisit either. I'm really excited for the revamp of this project! Think it'll be fun.
Have fun in HI! Was that a planned trip or spur of the moment? whichever, sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about a lack of talking about poetry in general. Have fun in Maui!
ReplyDeleteI have just joined this project too, am really looking forward to discussing poetry as like you I often struggle with how to 'talk' about poetry.
ReplyDeleteI just joined the Poetry Project. I feel the same way about reading and analyzing poetry on my own vs discussing it with groups. I discover more when I'm talking about it with others, even if we have completely different takes on it.
ReplyDeleteHave fun in HI!
*Care - Trip has been planned since January! Going with my mom, sisters, brothers, spouses, etc. And the babe.
ReplyDelete*Vasilly - I wonder why poetry--and even short stories--get left out in mainstream literature.
*Jessicabookworm - Glad you joined!!
*Janna - I know what you mean about everyone getting different things out of poetry and I think that's OK. I wonder if part of the reason why we don't feel comfortable talking about poetry is because we're afraid we'll get it wrong?
Poetry 180 (http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/) is also a good site for people who haven't read a lot of poetry before.
ReplyDelete*Jeanne - Thanks for the information on Poetry 180! I'm always looking for great resources.
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