Glimpses of Poetry
Poetry has been around for thousands of years, and still continues to capture the human imagination. It provides unique perspectives on life, love, and nature, making it an essential part of the human experience. But where can you find the best poets and their works?
The internet has revolutionized the way we find and experience poetry. Websites such as PoemHunter and AllPoetry offer the widest selection of writers from around the world whose words capture both grandiose and intimate moments. Here you can explore a plethora of poetic expressions from some of the world’s most celebrated and unknown poets.
Publications such as Poetry Magazine also make up a great source for discovering new poetry. The magazine features a collection of works from established and aspiring poets, building a bridge for readers to discover powerful and moving words.
Social media platforms like Instagram also play host to a vibrant poetry community, with many Instagram poets successfully publishing and promoting their works over the years. Accounts such as PoetsCellar, WeGreetWords, and PoetryLoves have gathered millions of followers and have even resulted in book deals for some of the poets.
Poetry books make up another great resource, especially if you’re looking to delve into a poet’s full anthology. Bestsellers such as Rupi Kaur’s ‘Milk and Honey’ have become book launch sensations, reigniting the passion for language and giving rhythm and spirit to all kinds of stories.
Lastly, literary festivals, book clubs, and cafes often host regular events where you can connect directly with other poetry fans, share experiences and even sample the work of new and upcoming poets.
Understanding Poetry
Poetry isn’t just about words, it is about being able to comprehend the different layers of meaning behind them. It’s about being able to recognize the choice of words and how to metaphorically apply them in a different context.
Many experts believe that knowing and understanding poetry requires a good base of both literary and non-literary skills. This includes being able to understand and identify different poetic elements such as alliteration, meter, or imagery, but also having a good basis of cultural and personal knowledge.
Experts agree that reading a piece of work and reviewing the particular themes and symbols helps to bridge the interpretation gap when it comes to understanding what a piece of work is conveying.
When looking at a particular piece of work, it’s also important to consider the structure of the poem itself, including the rhyme pattern, lines, stanzas and even visual aspects such as formatting and illustrations.
This holistic approach of understanding works of poetry is commonly used even in classrooms. A popular example of this is the ‘reading like a methodologist’ technique which requires the breaking down of works into its smallest form, ultimately allowing for a deeper understanding of the work.
Interpreting Poetry
Interpreting poetry is about looking beyond the words themselves, examining the poem’s structure, themes and symbols to draw out deeper meaning. It is important to realize that poetry acts as a vehicle for expression and therefore it can often be interpreted in various ways.
Many experts tend to use the ‘hermeneutic circle’ approach when attempting to interpret a poem. This entails breaking down the poem into its main components and examining the individual elements such as meter, symbolism, and allusion before attempting to synthesize the poem’s meaning.
Interpreting poetry can also be very personal and is often dependent on the reader’s own understanding. Hence, it is important to keep an open mind when attempting to interpret a piece of work, while also considering the author’s perspective and any relevant biographical information which may be available.
Exploring Poetry
Poetry is not just about finding and interpreting works of art, it is about the experience of exploration and growth that comes with the adventure.
Many experts believe that exploring poetry requires the reader to go beyond the limited ‘four walls’ of the page, incentivizing them to go beyond the written word and make their own personal connections with the material.
Using this approach, readers are able to explore ideas, weave interpretations and uncover thought-provoking concepts and questions. This often leads to unexpected discoveries, enriching the experience and deepening the understanding of the work.
Many recommend taking traditional classes like poetry criticism to broaden knowledge of the field, access to resources and peer insights. Alternatively, some suggest exploring the poetic works of other cultures, as it can lead to a much broader perspective of the art form.
Creating Poetry
Unlike learning or interpreting poetry, creating it requires a much more intimate experience.
Creative poetry provides a form of personal expression, allowing the writer to explore emotions, memories, and self-reflection. It allows for the weaving of thoughts and ideas in a way that conveys their own unique views of the world.
In order to write successful poetry one has to find their unique ‘voice’ by experimenting with different expressions and literary devices. This could be as simple as playing with rhythm and rhymes or experimenting with imagery and metaphor.
Practice is essential, and finding a creative space free of judgement or distraction can rise to the challenge. For example, many poet laureates such as Maya Angelou have attributed a major part of their success to finding the right creative environment and performing creative ‘writing rituals’.
Publishing Poetry
Once a poem is written, the next step is to get it published for the world to see. However, this can be a difficult task, especially for writers without well-known names or a major following.
The internet is a great place to start. Submitting works to online publishers like Thought Catalog, Poetry Magazine, or PoemHunter can be a great way to gain international recognition for your work. However, there are also literary journals and platforms dedicated to showcasing work from amateur poets and emerging writers, such as Ubiquitous Blurbs and Under The Porch.
It is also important to remember that writing often requires feedback in order to evolve. Getting critiques or editorial reviews of your works can help aspiring writers to become better poets, while giving them essential insights into the publishing industry.
Marketing Poetry
Marketing a poem is no small feat, requiring both resilience and strong networking capabilities.
Online marketing such as social media campaigns, creating newsletters, and cross-promotion can give aspiring poets exposure in their respective communities and professional circles. This can additionally be used as a platform to promote the poet’s online store or website.
It is also important to reach out to traditional publications or literary agents and build relationships with them. Gaining wisdom from publishers, critics, and authors can help aspiring poets to understand which venues are the best for exposure and gaining recognition in the literary world.
Having an author platform, such as blogging about current events or exploring topics related to writing, can also be handy for communicating, engaging and building connections with readers.
Receiving Poetry
For some, receiving poetry can be just as important as writing it. It is a way to tap into a person’s creativity and unlock unique insights and revelations.
Subscribing to poetry newsletters such as Devote Quarterly, receiving personalized promotions from professional poets or connecting with writing-focused communities are all ways to find inspiration for creating and enjoying poetry.
Gathering info from poetry workshops, signing up for subscription boxes from independent poets or joining the myriad of poetry contests available can be great ways to access poetic works from different regions, genres, and cultural backgrounds.
Finally, attending readings, listening to recordings and even creating your own podcast can help bring poetry alive and nurture a deeper connection between the reader and the words.
