A Poetry Meme: Poetry is Like

1. The first poem I remember reading/hearing/reacting to was …and just barely was Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. I still have my book that my parents read that poem out of, cost twenty five cents. Later, in high school I discovered Yeats and Browning.
2. I was forced to memorize (name of poem) in school and …I don't remember being forced to memorize any poem and a good thing because memorization is difficult for me.
3. I read/don’t read poetry because …I am drawn to the brevity of the words with the power to leave you breathless.
4. A poem I’m likely to think about when asked about a favorite poem is …gads, there is so many. "The Travelling Onion" by Naomi Shihab Nye comes to mind and "When You Are Old" by Yeats These are the first two that popped into my head. But there is also William Stafford's works and another day, other poems might pop into my head.
5. I write/don’t write poetry, but … hadn't for a while until I stumbled into Poetry Thursday and One Deep Breath. The switch turned back on and that makes me joyful. In the earlier 90's I had envsioned an on-line community of writers and many thought I was hmmm, a little silly.
6. My experience with reading poetry differs from my experience with reading other types of literature … I slow down and re-read. I read aloud more.
7. I find poetry … in the early morning, as I drive, in the little moments of the day. I also find it a great way to inspire first through third graders to write and write a lot when I teach an after school class in poetry.
8. The last time I heard poetry …is when I listened to the audio cd that accompanies Poetry Speaks to Children.
9. I think poetry is like …the petals of an artichoke, peel them off, savor as you reach the heart.