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Step 1
Read the poem aloud. Poetry was meant to be read aloud just as a song is meant to be sang aloud. You will miss out on the auditory beauty of language if you read a poem silently.
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Step 2
Read the poem more than once. Read it three times at the minimum. Savour and devour every word until it permeates your mind.
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Step 3
Take note of how the poem makes you feel. Let the poem reach you at an emotional level, observing your response to what the poet is saying. Does it make you happy, sad, angry, cold, aloft? Don't just read it as you would the newspaper ... let yourself respond. Poetry is, after all, language set on fire.
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Step 4
Don't understand every word you're reading? Look it up in a dictionary or thesaurus. Never underestimate the power of a good dictionary. If a word is unfamiliar to the reader, they cannot possibly respond to what the poet is trying to say.
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Step 5
Enjoy ... and share your reading experience with others. Poetry speaks to the human soul like no other form of literature can.
Comments
sallyemaycreate said
on 11/10/2009 I enjoyed your article on How to Read Poetry... very well done! The part about reading aloud is so true. Thanks for posting. 5* & recommendation
Delaplane said
on 3/30/2009 Great tips! If readers kept these points in mind, more people would appreciate poetry.
Ladybugblue said
on 10/21/2008 Good article! Thanks!
iamageniuster said
on 10/19/2008 Great article. Thanks for sharing. 5 stars!