One of the things we did in the first part of the evening was to think about what poetry is. The answers went up on the big whiteboard, and I've copied them onto my notes, to share with the world. I didn't note down who wrote what, but I assume we'll all remember our own words.
Here are the classes' answers to the question 'What is Poetry?':
- A different way of looking at things, a more descriptive way
- More concise than prose
- It's not only rhyme
- A group of words
- Emotion recalled in tranquility
- A fun way to spend my time
- You can ignore the grammar with poetry, more than prose
- Anything that isn't prose or drama
- Poetry has the power to move one's emotions
- Poetry helps me to think about life
- Bonsai prose!
- With poetry, it matters where the line ends
This final response went further, and led to the phrase being discussed, played with and set out differently, leading to two more poetic ways of placing the words on the page. Line endings were discussed and I feel a deeper understanding of this achieved.
With poetry, it matters
where the line ends
With poetry
it matters
where the line
ends . . .
What do you think about this - What is Poetry to you? Please leave your answers here, for the class to consider next Tuesday night, if you wish! Comments are always welcome!
