Chris Lehman recently invited teachers to join him in an online poetry workshop, TeacherPoets. He also invited people to respond to the question “Why poetry?” Many smart, insightful responses have been shared here. How to answer this question without restating what so many have already contributed? I decided to read through a few of my favorite poetry resources and create a found poem (some lines are slightly altered to work in the sequence).
Why Poetry?
Feel in touch with that universal rhythm.
Lift the veil from the hidden beauty of the world;
Find the mystery in everyday things and objects.
Rekindle a latent sense of wonder.
Have a good eye and a sharp ear.
Find your own voice.
Discover the perfect word for your purpose.
Use fresh imagery that rattles the senses and
Some wordplay that makes it sparkle.
Group them together in a shape or rhythmical structure.
Poems hum,
The breathings of your heart.
And words are nets to capture
The secrets you didn’t know you were keeping.
Here are the authors and sources of these lines, in order:
Lillian Morrison, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Percy Bysshe Shelley, “A Defence of Poetry“
Robert Farnsworth, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Joyce Sidman, “Touching the World: The Importance of Teaching Poetry” Riverbank Review, Spring 2002
Karla Kuskin, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Michael Dugan, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Mary Ann Hoberman, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Nikki Grimes, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Jane Yolen, Take Joy: A Writer’s Guide to Loving the Craft; Writer’s Digest Books, 2006
Lillian Morrison, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Julie Larios “Playing with Poetry“
William Wordsworth
Muhammed al-Ghuzzi, “The Pen“
Robert Farnsworth, Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; Candlewick Press, 2003
Reading to the Core 
Love this poetic combination of poetic words. Thanks for the resources, too. This is my favorite line, “And words are nets to capture
The secrets you didn’t know you were keeping.” Often writing a poem reveals to me something I have been ignoring. Kind of scares me sometimes.
LikeLike
My favorite was “The secrets you didn’t know you were keeping” (Robert Farnsworth) because, truly some poems just come out of nowhere and spill out on a page, and in the right order with the right words. Thanks for sharing!
Donna Smith
The A-to-Z Challenge
Mainely Write
LikeLike
I love how you did this, Catherine-wonderful to read. I like “poems hum”. Thanks.
LikeLike
“The breathings of your heart.” Our goal.
Cathy
LikeLike
….in a way that touches others. Thanks for the reminder of this fabulous resource for writing poetry.
Cathy
LikeLike
I decided to take a walk backwards today and found your Why Poetry poem. This line struck me, Catherine: “Lift the veil from the hidden beauty of the world.” I think that is what poets try to do all the time without really thinking about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
LikeLike