Poetry is a Feeling

Part 3 of Understanding Poetry

When it comes to understanding poetry, feeling is an essential ingredient. Nathan's spiritual blog, Walls Come Down, “feels” us in with poetic words and insight:

II.

in the dark,
writhing with ecstasy
in light rain drops

This is a movement away from thought, to feeling. It is a move away from structures in which distractions are embedded. Both in writing and reading, we are peeling away what we are not. What's underneath? We need a willingness to see things directly, for what they are. It doesn't matter if you 'understand it' or not. It's more about what you feel.

For Matt

Why should we not
laugh
and grow
like leaves
on trees
in forests careening
roots through buds
to blooming
falling
loving
dancing
singing moving,
floating on
and through?

Vicarious Reader of Poetry

The hardest part of writing is living. Living also incites the imagination. The second hardest part of writing is extracting understanding from living.

Doing the first and second parts, opens the portal to poetry. The writer trustingly takes the extended hands of living and meaning and follows life through the opening no matter the size or lighting.

The vicarious reader follows. They are also wonder seeking.

How To Write A Poem

(Part 2 of "Understanding Poetry")

In recognition of National Poetry Month, I'm sharing three drafts of a poem to show some of the changes a poem goes through. Hopefully, seeing the inside workings will aid understanding. The poetry writing process and an explanation of what steps were taken to accomplish each draft may be found at How To Write A Poem – Students, Teachers and Poetry Lovers

Draft 1

I tried to sing in a chorus
but my voice didn't quite fit in, blend
I tried play football
but my nerves were a bit too thin

dancing, other team sports or conformists activities, get the girls attention
writing and creativity found me, tried me and I said let's see, too tired from tried, see how close these words are

---

Draft 2 (bold is text from Version 1)
How I Tried

tried singing chorus
but voice didn't blend
tried playing sports
But skills didn't pitch in
tried getting girls attention
at the schools I did attend
tried disco dancing
But nerves were thin
Gave writing a try
Found a faithful friend

---

Draft 3 (bold is text from Version 2)
How I Tried

tried singing chorus
voice didn't blend
tried playing sports
skills didn't pitch in
tried for girls attention
at schools I did attend
tried disco dancing
nerves shook thin
Gave writing a try
Found a faithful friend
Tried make believe
with GI joe, army men
Tried to reconcile
Why soldiers never win
Tried to ignore realities
couldn't stop my pen

Read the poem and writing process together. Check the same page for future drafts of this poem, updates to the writing process or other writing discussions and writing exercises.

Please ask if you would like clarification on any aspect of these drafts or after reading the writing process.

Free Books- National Poetry Month 2009

Buy one book and get one book FREE.

This is my contribution to National Poetry Month.

Visit my website, www.usiku.net , order one book and I'll send a second book for free during the month of April. Free also includes the additional shipping cost. This is approximately a $24 value.

Just be sure when prompted to list autograph instructions for the first book, to also include instructions for the second book. Thanks.

Since Eloquence: Rhythm & Renaissance encourages personal growth and spirituality it's a great graduation gift and birthday gift.

Also, its theme of nature works well for relaxing, summer reading at the beach.

National Poetry Month 2009-Understanding Poetry

Approaching poetry in a hurry to understand it is the wrong approach. Understanding some poetry is like getting used to drinking grape/orange Kool-Aid with orange and apple slices. You know there's a lot going on but you enjoy it nonetheless by savoring the blend, moving it around in your mouth and drinking slower. You extend the pleasure by patiently waiting to enjoy the fruit. The process is the same for understanding poetry.

Approaching poetry hoping to merely understand what the writer was trying to say is the wrong approach. There are always numerous meanings in poetry regardless of what the author intended. An artist's intent should never be the boundary. I'm still hoping to understand more about some of the poems I've written.

Approaching poetry merely as an intellectual event limits understanding to what the mind has experienced. To receive additional understanding the spirit must become engaged. After the mind reads poetry you must release it to your spirit, otherwise inspiration and encouragement are not possible.

With that being said, poetry whispers something different to each person. Some poetry will urge you to take a step towards your own personal next level. Its purpose is to not leave you where it found you. There's really no cause to be intimidated when it comes to understanding poetry. Poetry is like a child seeking friends to get to know. Welcome it and soon enough you will learn that poetry understands you.