Introducing books to poetry

For the discussion of philosophical books.

Moderators: AMod, iMod

Post Reply
User avatar
Thomascbk
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:12 am

Introducing books to poetry

Post by Thomascbk »

Hello,

I would like to get introduced into the world of poetry.

What are your recommendations to read first and to get slowly started?
Walker
Posts: 14280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Introducing books to poetry

Post by Walker »

Thomascbk wrote:Hello,

I would like to get introduced into the world of poetry.

What are your recommendations to read first and to get slowly started?
Hello.

I recommend beginning with the greatest American poem.

Song of Myself

- Walt Whitman

Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems,
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions of suns left,)
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self.


http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174745
User avatar
Thomascbk
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:12 am

Re: Introducing books to poetry

Post by Thomascbk »

Hello.

I recommend beginning with the greatest American poem.
Thank you for your suggestion which I really appreciated and sorry for my late reaction, but I wonder if there is like a bundle/book from someone.
I would prefer to read poetry about emotions and all that sentimental stuff where someones personal emotions are being expressed with metaphors.
( If I said something dumb, please forgive me because I have no experience with it)
Walker
Posts: 14280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Introducing books to poetry

Post by Walker »

Thomascbk wrote:
Hello.

I recommend beginning with the greatest American poem.
Thank you for your suggestion which I really appreciated and sorry for my late reaction, but I wonder if there is like a bundle/book from someone.
I would prefer to read poetry about emotions and all that sentimental stuff where someones personal emotions are being expressed with metaphors.
( If I said something dumb, please forgive me because I have no experience with it)
Song of Myself by Walt Whitman is found in a collection of poems called Leaves of Grass, which was Whitman’s life-work. You can buy it in book form.

Poetry can also be found in song lyrics. Easier, slower, and often more pleasant than reading, and the music can get into your bones.

Joni Mitchell is a great song writer who has influenced many artists. She has a talent for the poetic. Poetry makes its own music with the rhythm of the words. She composes the music and also performs. Bob Dylan is the male version of Joni Mitchell.

Rhymes and Rhythms.

Mitchell’s discography is a good source of poetry. Her language is more modern than Whitman.

Here’s a poetic verse from one of her songs.

Well I looked at the granite markers
Those tributes to finality to eternity
And then I looked at myself here
Chicken scratching for my immortality
In the church they light the candles
And the wax rolls down like tears
There's the hope and the hopelessness
I've witnessed thirty years
We're only particles of change I know I know
Orbiting around the sun
But how can I have that point of view
When I'm always bound and tied to someone
White flags of winter chimneys
Waving truce against the moon
In the mirrors of a modern bank
From the window of a hotel room

- source, Hejira


(Those last four lines are Genius)

Among other reasons the words are genius because chimneys only appear to “wave truce”.

Chimneys are actually still. Chimneys don’t move when you look at them.

But they can appear to move in reflection, when surrounded by reflections of moving clouds that Mitchell does not mention. (empiricism)

The chimneys echo the eternal tombstones she mentions earlier.

Also, since the reflection is made possible by a bank, the chimneys may shake and wave when Santa’s sleigh lands heavy on the roof. (reader's projection)

All by the light of the moon. Moon reflects the sun, the source. The feminine is associated with the moon in most cultures.
Post Reply