If you aren't very familiar with poetry, you might have the idea that poetry is only about the beautiful things in life. You might think that poets are those people who have their head in the clouds, ignoring the hardships of life.
But that isn't the case. There is more to poetry than just love poems.
One of the poets I really enjoy is Langston Hughes. He died over forty years ago in 1967. But when searching for a good video depiction of one of his poems, I was very moved by this video made by a young teenager.
This is a video of Hughes' poem, "Mother to Son." Hughes mom did not have an easy life. According to wikipedia,
"Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, the second child of school teacher Carrie (Caroline) Mercer Langston and James Nathaniel Hughes (1871–1934).
Hughes's father left his family and later divorced Carrie, going to Cuba, and then Mexico, seeking to escape the enduring racism in the United States. After the separation of his parents, while his mother travelled seeking employment, young Langston Hughes was raised mainly by his maternal grandmother, Mary Patterson Langston, in Lawrence, Kansas. Later, Hughes lived again with his mother Carrie in Lincoln, Illinois. She had remarried when he was still an adolescent, and eventually they lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended high school. The Hughes' home in Cleveland was sold in foreclosure in 1918; the 2.5-story, wood-frame house on the city's east side was sold at a sheriff's auction in February for $16,667."
(Information found here )
Hughes' mom did not have an easy life. But, perhaps from her experience, he wrote this poem that contained beautiful truth.
What have you learned from difficulty which could inspire your own poetry? Comment and tell me or, better yet, write it into a poem!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Lenin Saw the Power in Poetry
Why should you read poetry? Is it truly useful in any way?
In a great article on why people should read poetry, John Lundberg wrote:
"In May of 1944, the poet Anna Akhmatova gave a reading at the Polytechnic Museum, the largest auditorium in Moscow. It was her first appearance in the city since World War II, and the room was packed. The poems she read had rallied Russians throughout the war, and her voice had broadcast through the streets of Leningrad to steel the city to the approaching German Army. When she finally closed her books, she received such thunderous applause that Joseph Stalin asked who'd organized the ovation. The man knew power when he saw it."
(from the article here )
Poetry was greatly valued at other times and is valued in other countries. It is sad to me that others cannot always see the value of poetry here in the US.
But I hope that stories like the above can inspire you to see that there is some value in poetry, at least to some people. So, like any curious person, everyone should at least give poetry a chance. If nothing else, you need to discover why other people are motivated by and waste their time with poetry.
The realm of poetry encompasses so many different styles, different subjects and different writers. That is part of why I picked the topic of poetry for this blog. I am hopeful that, by showcasing the variety in poetry, some people will at least try poetry and appreciate it more than they used to.
Poetry can help, heal and be enjoyed, if you will just give it a chance!
In a great article on why people should read poetry, John Lundberg wrote:
"In May of 1944, the poet Anna Akhmatova gave a reading at the Polytechnic Museum, the largest auditorium in Moscow. It was her first appearance in the city since World War II, and the room was packed. The poems she read had rallied Russians throughout the war, and her voice had broadcast through the streets of Leningrad to steel the city to the approaching German Army. When she finally closed her books, she received such thunderous applause that Joseph Stalin asked who'd organized the ovation. The man knew power when he saw it."
(from the article here )
Poetry was greatly valued at other times and is valued in other countries. It is sad to me that others cannot always see the value of poetry here in the US.
But I hope that stories like the above can inspire you to see that there is some value in poetry, at least to some people. So, like any curious person, everyone should at least give poetry a chance. If nothing else, you need to discover why other people are motivated by and waste their time with poetry.
The realm of poetry encompasses so many different styles, different subjects and different writers. That is part of why I picked the topic of poetry for this blog. I am hopeful that, by showcasing the variety in poetry, some people will at least try poetry and appreciate it more than they used to.
Poetry can help, heal and be enjoyed, if you will just give it a chance!
Where Do Poets Get Their Ideas?
Where do poets get their ideas? The answers to that question is as numerable as there are poets. If anyone knew a sure answer to writing inspiration, they could make millions but the answer is different for each person.
It's ironic to me that often the inspiration to write comes from the words of others. Reading the words of another can make us want to answer back with our own poem, our own emotions and experiences which their words drew out of us.
I know I am inspired by the quotations of others. Sometimes, I am inspired to write. Sometimes I am inspired to proceed with a course of action. Sometimes I am inspired to never read anything else by that writer. But that's why words are so important. They are just little typed marks on a page but they are more than that. Words are pure inspiration, whether for good or for indifference. Words change others, even if its just in the same way that they don't want to read anything else you write.
Words produce a result. What will your words produce?
Look us some quotations. See if any of them make you want to write a poem.
One of my favorite places to read quotations is through Brain Quote. You can search their site by topic or author!
Here is a poem my friend, Ryk, wrote that is based on a quotation by Einstein:
It's ironic to me that often the inspiration to write comes from the words of others. Reading the words of another can make us want to answer back with our own poem, our own emotions and experiences which their words drew out of us.
I know I am inspired by the quotations of others. Sometimes, I am inspired to write. Sometimes I am inspired to proceed with a course of action. Sometimes I am inspired to never read anything else by that writer. But that's why words are so important. They are just little typed marks on a page but they are more than that. Words are pure inspiration, whether for good or for indifference. Words change others, even if its just in the same way that they don't want to read anything else you write.
Words produce a result. What will your words produce?
Look us some quotations. See if any of them make you want to write a poem.
One of my favorite places to read quotations is through Brain Quote. You can search their site by topic or author!
Here is a poem my friend, Ryk, wrote that is based on a quotation by Einstein:
Ever Feel Like You're Writing in Circles?
Do you ever feel like you are writing in circles? Good! A circle poem can actually be very effective, both visually and mentally.
In life, one thing leads to another, which then repeats...
My friend, Art, wrote just such a poem.
It's a circle and you can't truly appreciate unless you go look at it.
It's very short! Click to see his shapely masterpiece. It's titled: Circle of Life
In life, one thing leads to another, which then repeats...
My friend, Art, wrote just such a poem.
It's a circle and you can't truly appreciate unless you go look at it.
It's very short! Click to see his shapely masterpiece. It's titled: Circle of Life
Poetry Leads to Social Work
Poetry leads to social work and to caring about your community. At least that is what two men called the Twin Poets believe.
The following video is about twin African-American men who are poets and social workers. In the short interview, they speak of how they feel their poetry led to becoming social workers and that doing social work inspires their poetry. They feel that poetry and caring about and working against social problems goes together. They think that poetry can be the first step that makes people go out and try to change the world, or at least make their own community better.
I too believe that poetry is useful, meaningful. I believe poetry can contribute to our lives and perhaps even to the health of our country. I really like the beginning of the short clip, where the brothers are inspiring all those African-American kids to write their own poetry. That's the kind of teacher I want to be. I hope I can (a white female) somehow reach the hearts of students of all races like these Twin Poets do.
Watch this video: Twin Poets-Why I Write, and be inspired of how you, too, can change your corner of the world.
The following video is about twin African-American men who are poets and social workers. In the short interview, they speak of how they feel their poetry led to becoming social workers and that doing social work inspires their poetry. They feel that poetry and caring about and working against social problems goes together. They think that poetry can be the first step that makes people go out and try to change the world, or at least make their own community better.
I too believe that poetry is useful, meaningful. I believe poetry can contribute to our lives and perhaps even to the health of our country. I really like the beginning of the short clip, where the brothers are inspiring all those African-American kids to write their own poetry. That's the kind of teacher I want to be. I hope I can (a white female) somehow reach the hearts of students of all races like these Twin Poets do.
Watch this video: Twin Poets-Why I Write, and be inspired of how you, too, can change your corner of the world.
But, I Can't Write a Poem...
Most of us want to say, "Hey, I'm just not a poet, OK? I don't write that kind of stuff. I don't even like to write!"
That's fine. I understand the feeling. But, for just one minute, could you make me a list, a list of:
Things You Like
Elements of Nature
School Supplies
Any List you come up with!
Congratulations! You now have a rough draft for a poem!
Don't believe me? Check out my friend, Art's poem. Basically, it is just a list (with one line summing it up at the end.)
A Day at the Fair
Footlong hot dogs
Apple pies
Cotton candy
(Jumbo size)
Ice cream cones
Rice krispy treats
Other yummy
Stuff to eat
Like kettle corn
And hot french fries
Barbecue plates
And cherry pies
Vanilla fudge
Chocolate cakes
I ate it all
Now my belly aches
©2010-Art Belliveau
(Used by personal permission from the author. The poem can also be found here )
That's fine. I understand the feeling. But, for just one minute, could you make me a list, a list of:
Things You Like
Elements of Nature
School Supplies
Any List you come up with!
Congratulations! You now have a rough draft for a poem!
Don't believe me? Check out my friend, Art's poem. Basically, it is just a list (with one line summing it up at the end.)
A Day at the Fair
Footlong hot dogs
Apple pies
Cotton candy
(Jumbo size)
Ice cream cones
Rice krispy treats
Other yummy
Stuff to eat
Like kettle corn
And hot french fries
Barbecue plates
And cherry pies
Vanilla fudge
Chocolate cakes
I ate it all
Now my belly aches
©2010-Art Belliveau
(Used by personal permission from the author. The poem can also be found here )
Old Popular Poems Can Still Be True
In this blog, I want to highlight poems from many cultures and many poets, of poets who are living now and those dead. I'd love to point out poems you never heard before.
But, now and then, I must share some of the old favorites.
"If" By Rudyard Kipling is a poem that really speaks to me. He is famous for writing The Jungle Book (which Disney made into a cartoon) but he was also a great poet.
Even after all its popularity, can you still hear a helpful message in it?
But, now and then, I must share some of the old favorites.
"If" By Rudyard Kipling is a poem that really speaks to me. He is famous for writing The Jungle Book (which Disney made into a cartoon) but he was also a great poet.
Even after all its popularity, can you still hear a helpful message in it?
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