Poe-et

I am not a poet. I could be, I suppose, but I'm not. I just don't. The last time I wrote poetry, I was 13 and it was terrible. Teenaged, tortured, terrible.

I am, however, extremely analytical. Perhaps that was why my poetry was so awful, but it has certainly helped me in my lifelong career as a book worm. As a student and a teacher, my willingness to pick apart language and stretch it to its breaking point has been a benefit. I don't write poetry, but I am certainly comfortable studying it. I will gladly run through lines and measure images, tone, and allusions. I drive my own students crazy with my ceaseless desire for more insight, more understanding.

I think I've ruined Poe for them forever.

Because of this never-ending zeal for analysis, I look at the writing of poetry a lot differently. Instead of finding the tone, I was expected to construct it. Instead of studying images, I needed to create them.

There is a lot more involved in that than it seems. I got frustrated quickly. I wanted to make the poems short and give in. I began to envy, and even loathe, famous and able poets like Poe and Whitman. I marveled at the words of my peers, and sat awestruck when meeting a truly beautiful poem. I was in wonder at the creation of a poem.

And somehow, despite the frustration, I regained some of the joy that poetry can provide. Words can exist to delight; they're not just tiny puzzles waiting for the right reader. Beautiful poetry or prose is a difficult art and it can never be mastered. It can, however, be enjoyed by everyone.

Writing a poem makes you appreciate the artistry of those who can actually write poetry.

With some structure, students can try their hand at poetry. Like me, I'm sure they'll share in the frustration and pea-green envy. However, they will also experience some of that joy of language, and delight in the creations of their peers as much as they do their own. When students write poetry, it helps to bring poetry down from some high-minded, intellectual function of other people to a personally appreciable level. In short, poetry becomes far more accessible.