Journal #9

-On Poetry-

Now that you've had a chance to dwell with poetry awhile, reflect on what you feel is its usefulness and relative importance in the grand scheme of the universe. What would life be like without poetry? What arguments could be made for doing more poetry than we do in public school?

Did your experience this time around change your relationship with poetry at all? Which was the easiest poem to write? Which was the most difficult? Are you left with any questions about poetry or poets in general? Have you any desire to read and/or write more poetry independently of this class?

Oh my, now that's a good question. Where should I begin? Well, to start, but without poetry, songs may not have reached their conception as we know them today. If we did more poetry in school, of course, I would enjoy that, but not everybody would agree to that idea. "Why not?" you may ask, I believe there is a pretty simple answer that we all can understand. Not all minds are alike, so in conclusion, not all of us are going to be capable of writing effective poetry. Although it is good that most people think differently, it can lead to certain frustrations, time after time.
I wouldn't really say that my relationship with writing poetry hasn't changed all too much, I still enjoy it, even after writing in new styles. Believe it or not, unlike most people, I guess, the easiest type of poetry for me to write is the Sonnet. I managed to take some time in writing a few out and after that, it just occurred to me that sonnets are my favorite type of poems. To me, the most difficult types of poetry would be the Found poetry and Imitation poetry. Behind the wheel of the flat-tired bus that is my mind, moving at a rate of 25 mph, my fragile, egg shell mind, most things work in reverse. If people think it's easy to make found poetry, I'm going to be wasting hours on end, trying to understand how it all works. If it's a sonnet, on the other hand, it will be easier for me, but more challenging for the people around me. That's how 'special' I am, the difficult stuff appears easier, but the easier stuff confuses me over and over.
After working through this 'Poetry Unit' as it is called, I heard that Mr. Pierce said that we aren't going to be studying all types of poetry, which I understand the reasons why. Either if it's not for our maturity or that there might not be enough time to look at all of them. I devised a few questions to possibly ask Mr. Pierce:
- Mr. Pierce, why didn't we try Haikus?
- Are you hiding more poetry from us apart from Limericks and those 'Dada' poems I wrote in the seventh grade?
- What's the next unit again? I forgot.
- Oh boy! if I came back next year, would we be doing the same types of poetry?
- Is it true that if you wear your tie too tightly, that you will lose blood circulation to your brain?
Ahem, now this will be a surprise to you. I would be interested to read and write more poetry in this class, indeed. I enjoy poetry, to read and write, it's what I do.... sometimes.