So, most people don’t really like poetry, but I do. I can’t really stand the long one; solely because I have no patience to read all of it. I like the ones that rhyme, are short, and (as corny as it sounds) paints a picture for people. Particularly, I like Langston Hughes. His poems have a bit of rough and rawness to them that I really like. The same qualities draw me into Slam Poetry. I’m a total Slam junkie. I like more of the poetry that has loud and prevalent emotions in them, than the soft lovey-dovey stuff. One of my favorites is by Taylor Mali, he’s a teacher whose poem is about the impact that teachers make on students that really go unnoticed. It’s called “What Teacher’s Make,” and one passage I really like from his poem is, “You want to know what I make? / I make kids wonder, / I make them question. / I make them criticize. / I make them apologize and mean it. / I make them write, write, write. / And then I make them read. / I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful / over and over and over again until they will never misspell / either one of those words again.” Another poet I really like is Steve Coleman, who graduated from Macalester College, up in St. Paul, Minnesota. His poem, “I Wanna Hear a Poem,” is more about Slam Poetry and the message you can send with it. But Slam is more than just angry people venting about things that upset them. Slam is beautiful and powerful, and if I do say so myself, earth moving. I owe it all to E-week and Mr. Swegarden for opening me to this wonderful new world of Slam Poetry, which branched into poetry in general.
Taylor Mali
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpog1_NFd2Q
Steve Coleman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jXDuqHEEk
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I agree that poetry can get really dry in class. I mean, i seriously groaned when i found out that we'd have to have ANOTHER poetry unit. But a few days later, when my mom showed me a website about slam poetry, and how to break it down, it was crystal clear! In class, i wish we'd read more modern poetry, and then escalate into classic and more abstract stuff. Slam poetry is the only poetry i read because it always has a message for people to hear, and you don't have to think about it for an hour to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteSlam Poetry I agree is WAY better then long story poems like Beowulf (not that I didn’t like Beowulf :]). I haven’t exactly found a poet that I really enjoy reading but I looked up the poem you mentioned "What Teacher’s Make" and I defiantly see why you love it. It truly displays a teacher’s power in a child’s life in school. My favorite line was "I make them understand that if you have the brains, /then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, / you pay them no attention!"
ReplyDeleteIt shows that a teacher not only teaches you how to read and write and do 2 + 2 = 4.
It shows that a teacher also teaches us how to be our self, and things that we will use to be better people.
Ya pretty much what Meghann said, when we had to go get the poetry and sense book, or whatever the title actually is, i was preparing myself for t tortures of poetry. I hadn't heard of slam poetry until you mentioned it here, and from the part the you actually posted it looks pretty decent. I hold nothing against the great poets and there works of art, but I personally don't like reading about maybe like a potato for instance and having it represent everything thats wrong in society. Although thats completely made up, the same general idea, I think I would like poetry if it just said what it was getting at, like the section of poetry Taylor posted. Hmmmmm....might have to actually check out slam poetry a little bit.....
ReplyDeleteAhh Taylor! I completely agree. I love poems that are short, sweet and to the point and i also like when a poems creates that image; it helps add an understanding to the poem. But I dread the long ones that make me not want to read them at all. I definitely am a fan of slam poetry, they always put a point across and have a deeper meaning.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree too. I feel almost exactly the same way on everything Taylor said. I think poetry that has more meaning behind it than just beauty or love is way more interesting and fun to read. I think some poets in their attempts to add depth and meaning to their poetry ironically end up making it more superficial and meaning less. I mean, Shakespeare wrote 100-some sonnets and they all say basically the same thing: O, thou lady art as beautiful as a summers cheery blossom. Seriously? In 154 sonnets all you said was: that girl looks like Megan Fox? Last year my english teacher had us read "O Captain, My Captain" and the first time I read it I thought it was just another dumb poem, then I found out it was about Abraham 's assassination and when I reread it I thought it was way more interesting. I think poetry has the potential to be great if, maybe, instead of 154 poems about a good looking girl you maybe write 153 about that girl and one about how you feel when your mom makes you get out of bed in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Taylor! Slam poetry is so much more interesting and a lot more fun to read. I looked up the poem "What Teacher's Make" that you quoted, and I really like that. Poetry is such a broad topic, and it's hard to fathom that the poem you pointed out, as well as others, are in the same categories as what we covered in class. I think it's cool how poetry let's ideas be expressed and the fact that there can be so many interpretations.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of slam poetry until this post. I really enjoyed the passage you provided by Taylor Mali. I liked how it got straight to the point and it didn't beat around the bush. I decided to look up some slam poetry and I found an interesting youtube video. It was the 2005 National Poetry Slam individual semifinal. Eric Darby's poetry was so strong his face was contorted with all the emotion he was showing. His poetry was funny and moving. He used metaphors but nothing too complicated. I think to really appreciate slam poetry you have to actually watch someone recite it. Thank you Taylor K.
ReplyDeletewow i feel weird when i repeat what every one said before me about checking out slam poetry after this post... But none the less, it is very interesting. I've never heard of it before, and i really like how simple the literature is, but how deep the underlying meaning is. it really digs down deep into the bottom of the fishbowl and promotes really deep thinking questions. i definately think we should read more modern poetry in class.
ReplyDeleteConner Garrett
Its understandable that almost everyone would rather read the shorter, more modern, and more rythmic poetry. I agree one hundred percent. I'm not saying that the long poetry with deep meaning isn't bad, its just not my style. Its kinda like cuisine. Sometimes comfort food thats in large portions and isn't very healthy is looked down upon, while the fancy five star food in high quality restaurants is look at as sophistication. I think really that sometimes the more unrefined and rough choice in both instances is best, its all about your own style. It doesn't mean people who like short, rythmic poetry have a more unrefined "pallet" for poetry, it just means we prefer a different flavor.
ReplyDeleteTaylor.. I agree and disagree at the same time. I love poems that paint pictures too and slam poetry is amazing! However, i like that lovey dovey poetry crap too. Because in a way it paints its own picture too. For instance Romeo and Juliet paints a picture that only the soft romance between two teens can paint. Love creates some of the best pitcures! It can also be found in nearly every poem.
ReplyDelete