Recently, I read an article about interpreting poetry. The author scrutinized and explained a poem line by line. I felt like was in 7th grade biology, a poor little frog, dead and spread eagled with pins before me. I thought, do people really do this? I prayed, please don’t tell me this is how poetry is taught. If so, it’s no wonder so few people read and honor it.
There’s a lot of poetry that isn’t immediately accessible, but during this last year I learned, by walking with poems, that the body will teach you. Thinking will not gift you a great understanding of poetry, the language is not a dead thing to be dissected. Reading and then going for a walk, letting the words roll around, saying them loud, imbuing them with breathe — gives them life. Then let yourself be distracted by the trees, or a fly or your life for a while, the poem will settle and you will not understand, you will know it, in the way that you should, not the way someone else thinks you should. I don’t think there was ever a poet who hoped their poem meant only one thing to all people.
It wasn’t coincidental that I choose to walk to memorize, the literary tradition of walking is long and well acquainted with poets. I was vaguely aware of this, but I didn’t start walking and memorizing because of it. It was a natural inclination .
When I went for my first couple of walks after my project was completed, I felt liberated. I didn’t have anything I had to do —just walk, enjoy the scenery, and let my mind ramble. But then I started to feel a little naked heading out on the path without a poem in my pocket. So I wrote one down, and I’m carrying it around, living with it and it with me, as I imagine I will, as long as I can write and walk.
I took on the project to memorize and recite 52 in a year , because somewhere along the line I got it in my head that a “real” poet “knows” poems. A real poet reads poetry — A LOT of poetry. I wasn’t doing either. I was writing poems, but my commitment was facile.
I was correct in my assumptions about memorizing and reading. I am not the novice I was a year ago. I don’t know that my own poetry has seen the benefits yet, but I now know where to go, and how to get there.
I hope you all had as much fun as I did 🙂
These were my favorites.
Saint Francis and the Sow, by Galway Kinnell
The Envoy, by Jane Hirschfield
Often I Imagine the Earth, by Dan Gerber
Let Us Gather In a Flourishing Way, by Juan Felipe Herrera
VSVEVG (very simple very easy very good) 
I’ve read a few poetry how to books that I actually enjoyed, but the actual reading and writing is the way to learn. You’ve been on a wonderful adventure.
I liked Mary Oliver’s Poetry handbook, alot. But its not really about particular poems. Indeed I have ! Peace to you Dannie.
You are taking us to a wonderful journey – I did enjoyed your clips, contents and details!!
Thanks Mihrank! so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Lovely post, honey! I love the idea of carrying a poem around in our pockets. I carry stories in my brain, I suppose. 😉
Thank you Britt. The poem as object is an interesting thing…its evolving, I imagine some art will come of it : )
Poetry is great, our understanding ever evolving with each new viewpoint somebody brings to the table. I like that idea about walking with a poem, it sounds very like William Wordsworth and that is always a good thing.
What grand praise, to sound like Wordsworth even in passing. I wrote and homage when I memorized Lonely as a Cloud, that was a lovely walking companion.
I’ve loved the poetic journey you’ve taken us on and can imagine that you feel strange walking without a poem in your pocket now. That’s such a wonderful phrase, a poem in your pocket…
It was a pleasure to have your company Letizia 🙂 Im afraid Im walking around with a list of Spanish verb conjugations at present, not nearly as fun or poetic.
I didn’t attempt to learn a poem each day or each week, as suggested by this book, but I certainly enjoyed thinking about and trying to know the poem for each day. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poem-Day-One-Wendy-Cope/dp/185619499X I love your idea of walking with your poetry.
Thanks for the book suggestion Gallivanta! I will check it out. I’m addicted to walking with poems now.
Here is another person who shares your addiction. https://waitingroompoems.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/our-autumn-2015-poets/ Her poems in the waiting room work is fabulous.