How to Read a Poem and Understand It Better

 

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Reading a poem can seem like a daunting task. After all, it’s just a bunch of words, right? How much can you really understand when reading just one page? Reading poetry is not as easy as it seems. There are many layers to each piece, and you’ll find that the more you read and understand these poems, the more there is to uncover. But how do you go about doing this? Readers often shy away from poetry because they don’t know where to start or feel like there is some hidden code they need to crack in order to understand it properly. This blog will help you break down the barriers when reading poetry.

Read Slowly

One of the most important things when reading poetry is to read slowly. This is because you need time to absorb everything that’s happening in the poem. You’ll find that the more you read a piece of poetry, the more it becomes ingrained in your head and the more you discover. It’s like peeling an onion – you need to go through the layers to get to the core. You can’t do this if you rush through it. When you read a poem slowly, you need to think about the words you’re reading and how they’re being used. You need to pay attention to the pacing of the lines, the way the poem is structured, and who the speaker is. You need to make sure that you don’t just skim through the poem and think about what you’re going to have for dinner.

 

Find the Meaning of Each Poem’s Parts

When reading a poem, it’s important to understand the meaning behind each part of the poem. This will help you understand the poem as a whole and make it easier to read and understand. - First line: This is often considered the most important part of a poem and is often a summary of what the poem is about. It can also be used as a hook to draw the reader in. - Second line: This is often the scheme or the theme of the poem. You may need to read between the lines and connect the dots to find this, but it’s a good idea to know what the author is trying to convey. - Middle lines: This is the body of the poem where the author goes into more detail about what they’re trying to say. You may find that these lines are more ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways. - Last line: The last line of a poem can be very important as it sums up everything that has been said in the poem up to that point. It may have a different message to the first line, but it will tie everything together.

Identify Theme and Rhythm

The theme of a poem is what it’s trying to convey. It’s the reason behind why the author wrote the poem. It’s what they want you to take away from reading the poem. There are many different themes that can be explored when reading a poem. It really depends on the mood of the poem and how it’s being conveyed. Some themes that are often explored are love, friendship, lust, dreams, death, or the passage of time. As well as understanding what the poem is about, you also need to understand the rhythm of the poem. This is basically how the poem is written. The rhythm and pacing of each poem are different, and this will make the poem more unique and stand out from the rest. It’s important to understand the rhythm of a poem because it can help you better understand the poem as a whole.

Sum up Your Feelings About the Poem

When reading a poem, you need to put yourself in the shoes of the author and think about how you would feel if you were writing it. Look at what the poem is about and try to figure out why it was written and what the author was trying to convey. This will help you understand the poem more and will make it easier to read. You may also want to consider the mood of the poem. This can be found within the first few lines and is often described as a feeling or a mood. For example, if there is a feeling of sadness or despair, then the poem is probably sad or depressing. After you have read the poem, take a moment to reflect on it and jot down a few notes in your journal about what it made you feel. What did you find most meaningful about it? What resonated with you? What was the message that you took away from the poem that spoke most to you? These are the things that you can use to create your own personalised poem for your loved one.

Try Reading It Again

Once you’ve read a poem and understand it, you may feel like you’ve got all there is to get out of it. But poetry is deep and often has many layers to it that can be discovered with each read. When reading a poem again, it’s important to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. This means that you try to forget everything you’ve already read and know about the poem. This will help you understand it better and pick up on things that you may have missed the first time around. Keep a notepad beside you or have a notebook where you can write down your thoughts as you go. This will help you pick up on the different layers and will make it easier to understand the poem.

Take Notes or Write Down Your Thoughts

This is a great thing to do if you’re studying poetry. Not only does it help you understand the poem better, but it also makes it easier to memorize and recall when needed. When taking notes or writing down your thoughts, it’s important to analyze the poem and break it down. You’ll want to look at the different parts of the poem and write down any observations or questions you have. This will help you understand the poem better and make it easier to comprehend. Poetry can be read and interpreted in many different ways. The best way to understand it better is to read it and think about it. There is no right or wrong way to read a poem. It really depends on how you want to approach it. There is no time limit when you’re reading a poem. Take your time and don’t feel like you need to rush through it and understand it straight away. The more you read, the better you will get at it. And once you get started, you’ll find that it’s like a drug – you’ll want to read more and more.

 

 

 

The Art of Writing a Poem

To writing down a poem, here is an art
that with a careful choice of words, it starts.
with precision, must each one be chosen
in the mind to create the perfect image.

Like a river, must he flow
And like birds, must the words sing.
A delicate balance It is,
But when rightly it is done,
a thing of beauty is the result.

How to Write a Poem

A poem is a type of literature that uses language to convey an emotion or idea. It is a way to express one's thoughts and feelings in a creative and often lyrical way. If you are interested in writing poetry, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Poems can be written in a variety of styles, such as sonnets or haikus, and they often rhyme. Though poems can be written on any topic, they are often about nature, love, or loss.

Writing a poem can seem daunting, especially if you've never done it before. But with a little creativity and practice, anyone can write a poem. To get started, try brainstorming a list of ideas or emotions that you want to write about. What are the thoughts and feelings that you would like to express? Once you have an idea of your topic, then choose a style of the poem and a rhyme scheme. Once you have those elements in place, you can begin writing your poem. Keep in mind the rhythm and flow of your words as you write, as this can add to the poetic effect of your poem. If you get stuck, try looking at examples of other poems for inspiration.

There is no one right way to write a poem. Just as there is no one right way to interpret a poem. The important thing is that you express yourself in a way that is true to you. Poetry is a form of self-expression, so allow your poem to be a reflection of your inner thoughts and feelings. One final tip: read your poem aloud to yourself before you share it with anyone else. Hearing the words spoken aloud can help you to identify any areas that may need improvement.

The method I use and prefer is waiting or looking for inspiration. And when I am hit by one, I leave whatever I am doing and write down my poem usually with no need to prof-read, that comes much later after the whole poem is written and I find every time that what is written is final.

For longer poems, you may want to write them in sections and save each section separately. To make sure that your versions match your experience, keep track of what minor variations you made as you translated the poem from thought to the written word.

Once you have written your poem, you may want to revise it to ensure that it flows well and conveys the message that you want to send. Poetry is a form of self-expression, so do not be afraid to express yourself in whatever way you feel comfortable.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

“Dance like nobody is watching. Love like you’ll never be hurt. Sing like nobody is listening. Live like it’s heaven on earth”. ~Mark Twain

The Art of Writing

Use chopped lines instead of sentences. Some people say that Poets usually write sentences first then chop them into line. Well, this too is true but I prefer inversion of sentences chopped into line. For example instead of saying;

‘I shall see her in Heaven’

say, ‘In Heaven shall I see her’
 

Also, look at the Poem that this very articled has inspired me to write. The writing in blue, are normal sentences explaining the art of writing a poem and the other (in pink) is the poem version of the same article.

1. There is an art to writing down a poem,

     And it starts with a careful choice of words.

     Each one must be chosen with precision,

     To create the perfect image in the mind.

     The poem must flow like a river,

     And the words must sing like birds.

      It is a delicate balance,

      But when it is done right,

      The result is a thing of beauty.

2. To writing down a poem, here is an art
    that with a careful choice of words, it starts.
    with precision, must each one be chosen
    in the mind to create the perfect image.

    Like a river, must he flow
    And like birds, must the words sing.
    A delicate balance It is,
    But when rightly it is done,
    a thing of beauty is the result.

    
If you need help writing your poem or are unsure of what to write about, consider reaching out to a professional poetry coach or joining a writing group. There are many resources available to help you hone your craft and find your voice as a poet.