Books & Resources
Enjoying Poetry
Waldo Publishers
Enjoying Poetry by Carl Japikse is a masterful introduction to the genius and brilliance of great poetry in general, and to a dozen of the best poets to write in English in particular.
From page 7:
To start with, let’s agree to certain principles:
- When possible, poetry should be read aloud. Poetry is not meant to be mumbled to ourselves; it is meant to fill the halls and mansions of our minds and hearts.
- A poem should be savored like a fine wine. It should be read slowly, with dramatic pauses. It should be read repeatedly, until its messages become clear. Then, it should be read several times more, just to enjoy and tap its power to exult our sense of being. It is not necessary to memorize poetry in order to enjoy it, but reading it repeatedly is a key to making it part of your psyche.
- Some poems rhyme, some do not. All poems are structured by a design, not necessarily a rhyme.
