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Notes -
What is the right way to consume poetry?
I would like to achieve a greater understanding of poetry and the canon of great poets; and I have many books of those in my house. But I'm not really clear on how people read poems, I guess. Like, with a novel, I sit down and read for as long as I feel like. Maybe a whole hour in a row or whatever. With poetry, the length is not on the same scale, and you're not typically following a plot or a narrative or anything. Poetry enjoyers, any insight you can provide would be appreciated.
1] Find an author whose poetry you enjoy.
1a] If you are totally unfamiliar with poets, pick an author who wrote a poem you like.
1b] If there are no poems with which you're familiar, consult a list of famous poems and stop when you get to one you like.
2] Pick up a book of poetry by that author.
3] Read poems in that book until you find one especially striking. Read it over several times.
4] If that poem still captures you, commit it to memory. Write it down on a flash card or word doc. Take a walk or sit by a fireplace or a comfy cafe.
5] Repeat
A lot of poetry, even by very famous authors, is not very good, or requires a very specific mood. So a good poem stands out all the more as something worth spending a lot of time with. Don't treat poetry like an exercise in consuming another piece of media. Don't tire yourself out reading crap.
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