Reading Poetry.

[Simmi]

You'd think anyone can read poetry, but I'm one of those people who can't... it's not that I hate it but I just don't seem to read it right. Like aren't most poems supposed to have some type of rythm(I think I spelt it wrong)? When I read a poem it sounds like I'm reading something out a of science book... no rythm what-so-ever. So the question is... Is that even normal? Or is it just my brain saying 'No I don't like poetry so I'm not gonna let you read it right!'

So yeah...

[Andy]

A lot of poems don't even have rhythm, but a lot do. You know about stressed syllables, right? Like this?

ba NA na
BA na na
ba na NA

Most people say ba-NA-na. Not BAAA-na-na. Rhythm in poetry is just a pattern of stressed syllables. Here's Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. You can see the pattern between stanzas. The bold syllables are the stressed ones. Try pronouncing them with a bit of force. ;)

Two ROADS diVERGED in a YELow WOOD

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And both that morning equally lay

Maybe even try reading while looking a clock and pronouncing the stressed ones whenever the second hand moves. Then do it faster.

[Simmi]

Kay thanks I'll try that out =D

[Crocolyle]

Also an important thing to note when you read poetry is that you actually read it just as if it were prose. In other words, you only pause where the punctuation indicates a natural pause. You do not pause at the end of the line, but rather pause where there us a period, comma, or it would seem natural to.

Here's an exerpt of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky"

"Beware the Jabberwock, (slight pause) my son! (pause)
The jaws that bite, (slight pause) the claws that catch! (pause)
Beware the Jubjub bird, (slight pause) and shun (DO NOT PAUSE)
The frumious Bandersnatch!" (pauses)

[Phantom]

I know what you mean, but often I find rhythm after the second or third time reading the poem.

[Simmi]

Thanks people! After some practicing with reading the poetry things in the Literature section I'm starting to get the hang of it! Although I have to read it out loud... But I'm getting there! So thanks again!

[Snappy Penguine]

What seperates poetry from prose then if they are read simillarly? I've often wondered that while writing.

[Crocolyle]

Prose, particularly fiction or creative nonfiction, tends to include elements like plot and character, whereas poetry, except for narrative poetry does not (though narrative poetry typically contains more poetic elements such as rhythm and sometimes rhyme and is written in stanzas, not paragraphs). A lot of poetry, particularly modern poetry, on the other hand, when read, is almost indistinguishable from prose. There's sometimes overlap between poetry and prose and sometimes writing can be considered either... but still...

[Gandalf the White]

Try and find what kind of poems you like Simmi! There are many kinds. Do that and you will love it. I personally like the fantasy ones. Or maybe the horror... :D