Episode 134: Poetry Overview

Notes:

Definitions of poetry:

- Webster - 1a : metrical writing : verse. b : the productions of a poet : poems. 2 : writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.

- Brittanica - Literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.

- Poetry.WordPress.Com “What is Poetry?” - Poetry is a word of Greek origin. It comes from a verb with means “to make, to create”. A poem is “something made or created”. The poet is the creator and language is the material out of which s/he creates his/her work of art.

The Verbivore references a Ted Ed video titled “What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs” which she used to help define poetry. These aspects of poetry are included in the video:

- Emphasize language's musical qualities

- Use condensed language

- Often features intense feelings

Fable references two Instagram weekly writing prompts she participates in. They are:

- #posttopoet with @the.authoress.life - which is run by writer Ali Noël

- #flashfictionmagic hosted by @embarnettauthor - which is run by writer Emily Barnett

The waterfall poem by Billy Collins is called “Elk River Falls” and can be read here.

The Verbivore references a Barbara Kingsolver poem about relaxing on vacation, that title is “How to Do Absolutely Nothing” and can be read here.

The Verbivore mentions the power and additional layers of meaning that came from hearing Dr. Maya Angelou perform/read her poems in her own voice. Here are the links to some of those videos:

- ‘Caged Bird’ - Audio by Dr. Maya Angelou

- 'A Brave and Starling Truth' - Recited by Dr. Maya before the UN

- 'Human Family' - Audio by Dr. Maya Angelou, Photographs by Lee Jeffries

- ‘And Still I Rise’ - Live Performance by Dr. Maya Angelou

- 'The Mask' - Live Performance by Dr. Maya Angelou

We referenced several of our previous episodes as part of our conversation. Here are those episodes:

- Episode 22: Imitation as a way to find your voice

- Episode 123: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Masterclasses Mentioned:

- Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

- Joy Harjo Teaches Poetic Thinking

Books & Movies Mentioned:

- How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons) by Barbara Kingsolver

- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

- And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems by Maya Angelou

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)