Poetry Is…11

                Words are the building blocks of poetry. The roots of modern English words are taken from a Germanic and Latin background. A poem is made of interesting words, whose texture and sounds are pleasurable to listen to. The noise patterns of these sounds are made up of consonants and vowels, which can be: soft and flowing, chopped and harsh, or light and smooth sounding, depending on the poet’s diction or word choice. Poems are not just an experience for the ear, but also an experience for the eyes from the visual presentation on the page. It’s important when reading poetry to paraphrase and put what the poem says into your own words. A poem uses written images to convey sensations (such as: touch, smell, auditory, visual, taste, and motion). A poem shows us rather than tells us about the experience, using concrete details (examples: sunlight, smile, fork, sandwich), instead of abstract concepts (examples: jealousy, pleasure, love). Watch for tired clichés (examples: working like a dog, busy as a beaver); try for original ideas when writing (example: the moon rose like a red-faced farmer). A poem should involve a physical, mental, and emotional response from the reader.