Poetry in Motion

(All poetry quoted here is in the public domain.)

When I taught high school English, I struggled to teach poetry. It's not because I dislike poetry as a whole, but it can be challenging to encourage teenagers to embrace many of the poems in the literature book. Poems can be beautiful to some and confusing to others. The author might write a poem thinking one thing, I might interpret it differently, and every student in the room might see it even another way. If nothing else, poems are good conversation starters.

There is a lot to learn about poetry. Elements of poetry include rhyme schemes, different types of stanzas, metric patterns, figurative language, and more. In order to lure students into the world of poetry, we embraced various poems, learning from each of them. Most of my students enjoyed the works of Edgar Allan Poe, for instance. We would use "The Raven" to study complex rhyme schemes. Yes, I'm sure you've read it, but I'm guessing it has been a while. Here's the first stanza.

From "The Raven"

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

   While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"' Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—

            Only this and nothing more."

When reframing our ideas of what poetry looked like, we would study poets like William Carlos Williams. Different, huh?

"The Red Wheelbarrow"

so much depends

upon

 a red wheel

 barrow

 glazed with rain

 water

beside the white

chickens.

But a good poem, in my opinion, is much more than just technically impressive. It offers more than rhyme and meter. A good poem goes beyond its technical merits, evoking emotion and awakening the senses through figurative language and imagery. A good poet will combine technical prowess with somethings the reader can connect with, not just appreciate. It is not only one dimensional. 

Langston Hughes' poetry is full of imagery. This one pulls on all five senses.

"Harlem"

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

 like a raisin in the sun?

 Or fester like a sore—

 And then run?

 Does it stink like rotten meat?

 Or crust and sugar over—

 like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

 like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Like beautifully written Psalm 119, you and I were inspired by the Holy Spirit and designed by God.

Consider Psalm 119. Most people who have studied it will recognize it as the longest chapter in the Bible, having 176 verses. But it is much more than that. In its original Hebrew, each of the 22 stanzas begins with one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order. And, within each of those stanzas, each line also starts with the same letter. It took some crafting! The content of the poem is also powerful, extolling the importance of God's law.

33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,

     that I may follow it to the end. 

 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law

     and obey it with all my heart.

 35 Direct me in the path of your commands,

     for there I find delight.

 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes

     and not toward selfish gain.

Like beautifully written Psalm 119, you and I were inspired by the Holy Spirit and designed by God. He creates us technically and physically, and then he adds unique imagery to us to evoke feelings and emotions. He does it with love, crafting us as a poet composes a poem. Do you think I am stretching this connection a little too far? Look at this scripture from Ephesians. 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

So, we are God's "handiwork." The King James Version of the Bible reads that we are his "workmanship." He created us with a purpose so that we can glorify Him, doing good works in Jesus' name. These English words "handiwork" and "workmanship" come from the Greek word poiēma, which means something that is created. From that Greek word, we get the word "poem."

We are God's artistic workmanship. His poetry.

Maybe you are a haiku, brief and clever when you speak. Or perhaps you are an epic poem, having a lot to say. Is your rhyme scheme complicated, or do you flow with free verse? Your poem, your life, your personality has a tone. It can be dark and chaotic, or it can be life-giving. God has created you for good works, and I encourage you to revel in that knowledge! 

The actor David Carradine said, "If you cannot be a poet, be the poem." Well, we already are poems. We are poetry, specially created by the most magnificent poet there is. You are a conversation starter. Be accessible to those around you, glorifying the name of Jesus as you were created and equipped to do. Be who you are: poetry in motion.