Poiema's Reviews > How Does a Poem Mean?

I've always loved poetry but had never delved into its structure or taken a college course on the subject. This book filled in the gaps for me. Written by John Ciardi, aka "Mr. Poet," this book gave opportunity to see poetry as more than just pretty words. I learned about rhythm and meter and motion and silences and fulcrums and so many other aspects relating to the structure of poetry. I think the author's point was always that poetry is to be experienced, not just read and analyzed. Many times the structure of the poem displays hidden meanings that go way beyond language; the architecture speaks as loudly as the words.

This is a l-o-n-g book and I took a LONG time getting through it. In fact, I kept it at my bedside for a couple of years and dipped into it when I wanted to close the day with poetry. I was introduced to many different genres, and interspersed throughout were exercises and observational tools that enhanced my understanding considerably. Never, never did the author tell what the poem "meant." He succeeded in presenting poetry in a whole different light, beyond superficial enjoyment.

I did find portions of this book useful, not only for myself but for my high school (homeschool) students. We didn't use it cover-to-cover, but selected portions that were applicable to our current studies. Highly recommended.