How to Read A Poem

When you start to read a poem
There are rules you shouldn’t bend
Like you start at the beginning
And you finish at the end.

Go slowly, don’t just speed-read,
And read every word, you’ll see
That rushing isn’t half as good
As reading carefully.

And when you think you’re done
Because you’ve finally reached the end,
Go right back to the opening verse
And read it over again.

This time I bet you’ll notice things
You didn’t see before
You’ll make a new connection –
You’ll get out of it much more.

And if you really loved it
Then perhaps you’ll read it thrice
Out loud to someone maybe
Now wouldn’t that be nice?

So if you read this poem
And you started at the top
And you read it nice and slowly
And at the end you didn’t stop,

If you read it two, three, four times
Just because you loved it so
Then I think you’re pretty good at this
Just thought you’d like to know.