Poetry intimidates me.
When I read it, I feel like the poet is pulling a fast one on me. When I write it, I feel like a fraud for trying. To perform my own poetry, then? Well, I was not excited to do it, that's for sure.
However, I love the part of any kind of the creative writing process where I'm given parameters. In other words, I like that for each poem we wrote, we had to follow certain rules (the first one, for example: Describe a recent experience/encounter/event that shaped your life or the way you view the world around you). And then I love when there's a group of us all doing the same thing and we are all, then, tasked with sharing our results to compare with one another.
Upon any type of exercise like this, I usually like to make lists. As I did that, the list poem came to mind. And so, that's what I did.
Now, writing about poetry made me focus on not just understanding words, but also understanding patterns and how those patterns or repetitions might carry meaning themselves. The poem I wrote about utilized the poetic device anaphora, which is a literary device that uses repetition of short phrases or single words at the beginning of clauses or sentences to enhance rhythm and evoke audience emotional participation in the literary work. In looking closer at my poem and how anaphora was used, I began to see how much it contributed to the meaning of the poem. As such, I kind of did the same thing in my own poem to create meaning.
Part of what I learned in doing this assignment is that there is a unique power of poetry, which is hidden in mystery (the parts not indicated or consciously vague) or in figurative language. I also saw how it really engaged students in our class. I was so surprised how people got so personal, how people got so much into reading it aloud, and how, as audience members, they were so supportive. That experience went hand-in-hand with what I took away from the Edutopia YouTube video we watched on performance poetry engaging high school students. Going into this part of the class, I would've said I had no interest in teaching poetry. However, based on the engagement and excitement it created in our class, I'd reconsider.
Hi Mike!
ReplyDeleteYour first line speaks volumes. Even after someone who previously was in a poetry club and considered myself quite the little writer, getting older and more mature just made me realize how far gone I feel with poetry. It no longer scratches the itch in my soul, now I just want nothing to do with it if I’m being honest. I agree with you- it does feel like the writer is trying to pull a fast one on us! As if being transparent without the use of flowery metaphorical language was so hard..tsk tsk. I also really enjoyed your poem! For someone who considers themselves intimidated by poetry it’s hard to believe! I loved the title and the use of anaphora, it made it really easy to be engaged with, plus as a fellow parent I enjoyed relating to the experience of what life was like prior to having a kid. “I’m dad” - such a simple but beautiful saying! Well done, Mike!
- Adela Perez
Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteI totally get that poetry can feel intimidating. It's easy to feel like you're missing something when reading it, and writing your own can sometimes feel like you're not "qualified" to do so. I really appreciate your honesty about that, and I think a lot of people share that feeling. The way you found comfort in the structure of the assignment is really interesting. Having guidelines to follow can definitely make the process less overwhelming, and it’s great that it helped you focus your creativity. I like how you leaned into the list format and used anaphora to create rhythm and meaning in your poem. It’s amazing how something like repeating a word or phrase can shift the tone or deepen the emotional impact. Your poem about being a dad was touching and sweet, and your form helped evoke this. I also felt the same way about how engaging the performances were. Seeing everyone get so personal and feeling the support from the audience was really nice. I think it's awesome that this experience made you reconsider teaching poetry.
Hey 495Mike,
ReplyDeleteMy personal feelings about poetry resemble this sentiment. I often feel that the poet is attempting to elevate their thoughts above my comprehension as if this would somehow bestow them with more credibility than me. Poetry is my weakest literary skill, and I have no shame in saying that. One thing that has been made very clear to me when working with students is that they do not care about something unless there is some monetary value. I am not saying that it is the only contributing factor to students learning a subject, but I think it is one of the leading factors. At least, that is the sentiment I am getting from the students in my area.
Hello Mike thanks for the blog post I enjoyed getting your insight on the art of poetry. Thank you for being so vulnerable and letting us know that you were intimidated by poetry. I think a lot of other students would be able to resonate with your feelings of discomfort. I think one of your main points is how valuable it is to structure the work even during the creative process.
ReplyDeleteI found your response to the observation of the classroom dynamic interesting. I too felt that we shared a very supportive environment because without it people like you may not feel comfortable enough to open up about their emotions. It's great that you perspective on teaching poetry has shifted based on your recent experiences. Your willingness to reconsider your stance on teaching poetry shows growth and openness, which is refreshing.
I like that this week's blog post you not only highlighted the pure nature of poetry but also your own personal experience. I think it's great that you see transformative power of poetry in education.