Why Teach Poetry?

I don't teach poetry to students; I lead students to poetry and encourage them to dip first a toe and finally to wash completely within the beautiful waters. Like art and music, poetry enriches our lives. It shows a different way of thinking and looking at life. Sometimes, the teaching of poetry is questioned. Here are a few of the reasons that I use to explain why I include poetry in my writing curriculum.

• expresses the music and lyricism in language
• teaches us about the richness of language and its capabilities
• defines and frames deep feelings
• is personal and can be about anything and everything
• should give pleasure and speak to the reader and the listener
• is intended to be read aloud
• is a way of seeing, translating and hearing
• is intense and captures distilled perception
• communicates on all level of intellect and emotion
• explores the meaning and mysteries of life
• must be age and interest appropriate to be appreciated

The following poem by Billy Collins expresses it perfectly:

Introduction to Poetryby Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the lightlike a color slide
or press an ear against its hive
I say drop a mouse into a poemand watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's roomand feel the walls for a light switch
I want them to water skiacross the surface of a poemwaving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope  and torture a confession out of it
They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.

Poets are born, not made. Yet, poets still must learn their craft, just like a gifted pianist must practice daily. Poems are not really a language, but the content of a language. In order to write a poem, the poet must consciously make an effort to draft, revise, proofread, and edit his poems. Snippets and ideas may come at any moment, but writing a poem takes careful effort. The would-be poet must be a serious poet. It is a matter of craft and precision. Yes, you can flirt with writing a poem, but you won't get anything meaningful out of the relationship. Poetry, styles of poetry, lives in historical context and comes in and out of fashion. However, the desire to create a poem never goes out of fashion. How can one learn to write poetry? Read poetry. Styles change; historical context changes, but the subject matter does not. Become intimate with poetry's distant voice. Contemporary poetry is built upon the past. Students should read classic poems.

Jelaluddin Rumi 1207 to 1273Little by little, wean yourself
This is the gist of what I have to say.
From an embryo, whose nurishment comes in the blood,
Move to an infant drinking milk,
To a child on solid food,
To a searcher after wisdom,
To a hunter of more invisible game.
Think how it is to have a conversation with an embryo.
You might say, " The world outside is vast and intricate.
There are wheatfields and mountain passes and orchards in bloom.
At night there are millions of galaxies, and in sunlight
The beauty of friends dancing at a wedding."
You ask the embryo why he, or she, stays cooped up
In the dark with eyes closed.
Listen to the answer.

Imagery is one of the pieces of poetry. It is one of the things that holds a poem together. Imagery is when the poet creates a vision or an image with his words.

Prelude

by T.S. EliotThe winter evening settles down
With smells of steaks in passageways
Six o'clock
The burnt-out ends of smokey days
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
 

Of withered leaves about your feet.