  Poetry
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Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture.
Rita Dove, American poet
In this issue of the Poetry Newsletter, we will visit a Writing.com poet and discuss the 'sound' of a poem. |
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Poetry often is meant to be performed, sometimes even with music. So, even if you are not in a private place, or if you feel funny about "performing" a poem by reading it aloud in an aptly dramatic manner, you can at least read it aloud and try to imagine what tones of voice you should use at various lines. So, read the poem through once, check to make sure you have a handle on what it's saying, and then read it two more times experimenting with various voices and poses. Are some lines ironic? sneering? passionate? How does the meaning of various lines change when you change the tone of your voice?
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Teaching/Handouts/readingpoetry.html
Read the poem slowly. Most of you speak rapidly, and a nervous reader will tend to do the same in order to get the reading over with. Reading a poem slowly is the best way to ensure that the poem will be read clearly and understood by its listeners. Learning to read a poem slowly will not just make the poem easier to hear; it will underscore the importance in poetry of each and every word. A poem cannot be read too slowly, and a good way for a reader to set an easy pace is to pause for a few seconds between the title and the poem's first line.
http://www.courses.vcu.edu/ENG-ejc/eng236/readaloud.htm
I mean to suggest that poets select words for their sound as well as their meaning – and that good poets make good ‘initial’ selections. Of course they also revise.
Mary Oliver from A Poetry Handbook
Whether we are readers of poetry or poets, it is important that we understand the ‘sound’ of a poem. Many things go into creating just the right sound for a poem. Good word choice and proper use of enjambment are just two examples of things that can ‘make’ the sound of a poem. Included in creating the sound of a poem are such things as rhythm and the poetry sound devices, such as alliteration and consonance. The sounds of vowels and consonates within the words are important to the sound of a poem.
In her book A Poetry Handbook, Mary Oliver gives an example using the words "rock" and "stone." Though the words mean the same, the sounds are quite different, but the proper one must be chosen to adhere to the 'sound' of the poem.
A good poem will “sound” good; there will be no ‘choppy’ feeling as the poem is read. It will be ‘pleasing’ to the senses and will ‘flow’ from the tip of the tongue.
Read a poem once silently, then once aloud, just listening to the sounds. Notice the action of the verbs... Reading aloud will help you hear the speaker's tone... listening to the vowels and consonants in each poem.
Frances Mayes, The Discovery of Poetry
Writing.com poet Eliot   states:
It is important to me to create the sound of a poem, as well as the form and content of the poem. I constantly work with a new poem aloud, to get the sound of it right. I think many beginning poets neglect this important aspect of writing poetry.
In the reading of poetry, Eliot says there are two absolutes: You must read the poem aloud and you must look up words you don’t know.
Eliot has taught poetry for thirty years at the high school level in the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota, in the United States. For three years, he helped train education majors at a Midwestern college, where he instituted a course in modern and contemporary poetry.
Along with his achievements in teaching poetry, he also does performance poetry in clubs and gatherings from Boston to Tokyo. He once performed his poem "A Song for the Children of Nakajo" for officials from the Japanese Department of Education.
Eliot began writing poetry as a teenager, as he hitchhiked across the country, carrying and studying a copy of Seldon Rodman’s One Hundred Modern Poems. (He still has this copy today.) Eliot’s first poems were ‘road poems,’ written on ‘napkins or whatever.’
Some members of Writing.com may remember Eliot from the ‘Open Mic Night’ at the Writing.com 2004 and 2005 Conventions. His poem "Someone in This Room Tonight" was created for the Writing.com 2005 Convention to illustrate the overlapping human aspects of the group of writers gathered at the convention.
I am delighted that a poet and teacher of Eliot’s stature chose to share some of his wisdom with us and to encourage us as poets to pay attention to the sound of a poem.
As you read Eliot's poems below, read them aloud, slowly, paying attention to the sound of the words and lines as they flow together to become a poem.
For more about Eliot , see:
Note: If you are interested in learning more about creating the sound of a poem, I recommend the book A Poetry Handbook by noted poet Mary Oliver. The author devotes a chapter to discussing this topic. A Poetry Handbook can be purchased at www.amazon.com.
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Here are some selected poems from around the Writing.com site. Take time to read each poem through once, slowly (and quietly). Then read each poem a second time (aloud), paying attention the 'sound' of the poem.
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A great, unique contest is being revived. Good prizes are offered. Stop by and check it out. Maybe try your poetry skills on something a bit different for you (or perhaps something quite familiar).
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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~*sHaYnE*~
Thank you for the great poetry newsletter. I don't consider myself a poet, (don't tell my port that) I'm always looking for ways to improve my poetry writings. I love the William Carlos Williams poem you chose to help show what a good free verse poem looks and reads like. I can't wait to check out fellow WDC poet Eliot's port. I'm always open to suggestions and honest critiques about my work, so it will be interesting to see what is suggested. Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading more from you.
Shayne: I encourage you to keep trying to improve all your writing skills. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem by William Carlos Williams. He is a very fine poet. I hope you have enjoyed the visit with Eliot in this edition.
andromeda
Well, i'm probably not going to be a great poet, but I do enjoy poetry. Nice info though. Maybe i'll figure out how to correct my own.
andromeda , many beginning poets do not see themselves as good poets. A poets poetry skills are refined by practice and always the self-challenge to improve. Hang in there, with time, you will become more comfortable with editing your poetry and find it to be a rewarding experince.
monty31802
I have to say thank you for another great Newsletter, Larry You are a natural.
Thank you for your encouragement and kindness Monty.
Winnie
Thanks for such a great issue of the newsletter, and also,thanks for including my poem
"My Devotion" I really appreciate it!
Great job!
Take care!
Winnie
Thank you for your kind words Winnie. It was an honor to include your very fine free verse poem.
JudithJean France
Well written, inspires one to want to curl up this minute and start a "free form" poem. Blessings...-
Ah, Judith, I hope you did just that! Thanks for the blessings.
Larry
camo2405
how do you get a piece of your poetry put on the newsletter?
Hi Cam24; normally the editor of a newsletter selects poems which coincide with the topic discussed.
Larry
darkin
Wonderful subject, Kansaspoet! You did a great job of explaining free verse, and gave excellent examples of it. Well done!
Darkin
Thank you for the high compliment Darkin!
Larry
ShellySunshine
Wow, Thanks Larry and everyone this was a great read! Shelly
I am glad you enjoyed the newsletters and the featured poems. Thank you Shelley.
Larry
MDuci
Hi Larry, your newsletter leaves me feeling so light hearted and ready for the day. It's like having a wonderful dinner in a fine restaurant and topping it of with a smooth glass of wine for desert. Filling but not over full, I love it.
Marlena
Nothing like a nice poetic response to a poetry newsletter! Thank you Marlena. Your support and encouragement are greatly appreciated.
Larry
esprit
Larry, another good letter - thank you. I think the topic of imitation is an important teaching tool and I mention it in a lot of my reviews.
By reading the styles of other poets and with ‘much practice,’ a poet slowly develops his/her personal style.
This works in all types of writing; and I strongly agree we learn by imitating. Good job!
Thank you, Esprit! I agree; this applies to all forms of writing. Thank you for sharing the wisdom of a remarkable reviewer.
Larry
sean223
Great newsletter! This was very informative and it inspired me to go write some free verse poetry right now!
Sean223
One thing I love to hear is that I inspired another poet. Thank you Sean.
Larry
Mark
Sometimes, it takes a brick upside my head for me to pay attention. Today was one of those days, and you still managed to keep me interested. Your efforts are obviously outstanding. They are also appreciated. Great job once again Larry. Thank you.
Thank you Mark for your encouragement and support. I have those 'brick upside my head' days too. 
Larry
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Poetry: August 29, 2007 Issue [#1916]
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