SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION
Poems are like songs. The poetry is music.
The poems are most of the time read or recited. They are meant to be read aloud.
Thus, we should recite a poem accordingly to get its fuller meaning and analysis.
If you’re new to the habit of reading poetry, you need to read poetry books.
The experience of reading poetry can be difficult, but its primary purpose is to read, enjoy it and improve academically if you are a student or teacher.
SECTION TWO
5 STEPS FOR READING A POEM
The following are the steps of reading a poem:
1. Read the poem twice in a row. Take note of what you notice the second time that wasn’t so apparent in your first reading.
2. Don’t skip over unfamiliar words. Pay attention to them and look them up. You can’t be assured you will fully understand a poem if you don’t understand all its words.
3. Try to identify a meter, if there is one. Is this blank verse, rhyming couplets, a haiku? Or perhaps it’s free verse, with no fixed rhyme scheme or meter.
4. Notice a point of view. When pondering what the poem means, consider the mindset of the speaker. Would a different poetic speaker alter one’s understanding of the poem?
5. Read the poem one more time, and this time read it aloud. Consider the sound of each word as it hits your ear, and take in the aesthetic pleasures of the sounds themselves.
CONCLUSION
At the end of the day, there is no single method for understanding poetry, just as there’s no single method for writing poetry. The experience of reading a good poem and appreciating how the poet uses language is its own reward. The overriding rule is to not rush, don’t skip over words or sections, and whenever possible, read the poem aloud. By doing so, you can unlock the multifaceted beauty contained in so many works of poetry.
LE TEST 16: HOW TO READ A
POEM
[1] Pick any poem and read it aloud:
[2] Read this stanza aloud and comment on the rhymes and message:
Today is May,
We are on the way,
Trees will sway,
This way and that way.
[3] Read the following short poem aloud and identify it's rhyme scheme:
Behold dear friend.
Salvation is coming.
The earth has come to end.
Jesus is coming.
Reference
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-poetry
Accessed: 11-09-2021
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