When reading poetry, it is important to ask: Who was this poet? What time frame was the poet living in? When was the poem written and when was it published? What was happening in the world when the poem was written?
Finding out about the poet is interesting; note the birth and death dates. Knowing something about the poet pays off, as it helps you understand the poem better. Introductions and biographies written in poetry books, offer information and historical backgrounds on each poet.
Poetry sometimes uses unfamiliar terms. That is why it is useful to have a dictionary handy. Poets make references to things outside the poem all the time – things in the world, in history, in other literature, and in popular culture. They use metaphors and similes to allude to these references. Poets bend sentences to fit the thought of the poem. Poets create words and expressions all the time. When languages change, vocabulary changes.
To help understand the poem: Read it silently once. Read it again. Then read it out loud.
Karen Hein Poetry 