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Poetry
What is poetry????
Poetry is an experience that is expressed through
meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices in order to get an emotional
response from the reader. Poetry sometimes uses rhythm
and rhyme, but this is not necessary. Poetry written
without rhyme is called free verse.
Poetry is a way to put your feelings or
expressions into words.
Carefully selecting words for clearness is important,
but poets go well beyond this, considering a word's emotional qualities, its
musical value, its spacing, and sometimes even its position on the page.
Huh?
William Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous
overflow of powerful feelings."
Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my
body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry."
Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what
makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me
want to do this or that or nothing."
So, what's
the purpose of poetry?
A poet may use poetry to narrate, describe, argue, or
define. But poetry, unlike other writing, often has an purpose that
goes beyond just putting down facts. It usually evokes in the reader an intense
emotion, such as joy ,
sorrow , anger ,
love and many more.
A poet's goal is to express a feeling, reaction, or idea in a manner that anyone
who has experienced or imagined a similar thing can understand.
Where can I read
some poetry?
Most books
containing poetry are in the 800 section of the library. You'll find funny
poems, serious poems, poems that rhyme, poems that tell stories, and even some
poems that are also riddles. Ask the librarian to help you find poems that
speak to your feelings.
You can also find
poetry online at these sites:
Poetry4Kids
ISLMC Poetry for Children
Lewis Carroll poetry
Academy of American Poets
Children's Poetry
More definitions
rhythm:
a regular repeating of sounds in a certain pattern. Poetry usually has
rhythm. Sing a song; do you hear that rhythm? A poem's rhythm comes from a
pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The poet arranges the words of
each line in a way that gives the poem a repeating beat. Just as a drummer can
create a variety a drum beats–from “ONE two three four, ONE two three four” to
“one two THREE, one two THREE”–poets can also work a drum beat kind of pattern
throughout their poetry.
rhyme: a word
or line that has the same ending sound as another. For example, "June" and
"moon" or "blue " and "true."
free verse:
poetry that usually doesn't rhyme. Some people think that free verse is
poetry without rules. However, what separates poetry from other writing is
the arrangement of carefully chosen words into verses. Several
poetic devices may be woven throughout the piece. There may be patterns of sound
and repetition. Free verse can be compared to a song that doesn't rhyme. There
is still a "poetic" quality to it.
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