How to Interpret Poems

Instructions

  1. Enjoy Yourself

    • Is it possible to read too much into a poem? Yeah, it probably is. Whether each reader will accept another reader's interpretation as the final truth is part of what makes poetry rewarding. Despite what a professor may tell you, there is no "correct" reading of a poem. The more complex a poem is, the more open it is to multiple meanings. But this does not mean that you should be a lazy reader and just sit back and stare at a poem to see how it "feels." If you're going to spend your time doing something like reading poetry, you'll want to put a little effort into it anyway.

      Having said that, if it's still possible for you to enjoy poetry for its own sake--to be carried away by the language and rhythm of a poet's work--then you are getting something out of it. In fact, you're getting the thing that makes it worthwhile in the first place.

      To check out some more great poetry (if you've not had your fill for, say, the next 15 years or so), check out Representative Poetry Online, maintained by the University of Toronto English Department (see Resources). It has hundreds of poets and poems available online. To wrap up, here is one special final poem:

      Roses are red

      Violets are blue

      That's our advice

      (In "Verdana" font too!)

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