In class we discussed the ambiguity of poetry in
terms of how it’s defined. As we explore this genre, we will continue
to return to the question, “What is poetry?”
To show you how varied and diverse poetry is, I thought I’d share
with you a mélange of different poetry definitions from poets
themselves.
Your task is to choose one definition that you are drawn to and complete the following procedure:
1) Write the entire definition and the author – 5 points
2) Explain why you chose this definition (e.g. what do you like about
it? What caught your eye? Did you choose this one because you disagree
with it? Why?) – 5 points
3) Write a paragraph explaining what you think this definition means. – 10 points
4) To make sure this doesn’t just become an assignment that you all come
on here to complete without actually reading others’ thoughts, you
will also be required to refer to a previous classmate’s post. If you’re
the first commenter then you will need to come back later and add to
the discussion. – 5 points
Here is the list of definitions to choose from:
“Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary. “ – Kahlil Gibran
“Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.” – Percy Shelley
“Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” – Thomas Gray
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” – Robert Frost
“Poetry is a literature of brushstrokes.” – Nikki Grimes
“Poetry is ordinary language raised to the nth power. Poetry is
boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by
the delicate, tough skin of words.” – Paul Engle
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
“Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.” – Dennis Gabor
“Poetry is the art of saying everything and reducing it to nothing.” – Barbara Hyett
Annabel R.
ReplyDelete"Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn." -Thomas Gray
I chose this definition because poetry really is thoughts that breathe. I don't really understand the "Words that burn" part.
I think this means that when you're writing or reading poetry you could feel the rain on your head, if there's rain in the poem.
I guess this means that if you have a good idea in your head it seems like the greatest idea ever and when you write it out, the idea is just confusing and sort of bad.
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeleteWhy I choose this definition of poetry is because Edgar Allen Poe is one of my favorite poets. I also thought that he had an interesting definition of poetry, and I agree with his definition. I like his definition of poetry.
What I think this poem means is that poetry is beauty. Only, that is, in words. I think that it is a like a jewel, and you don't want to lose it. That's what I think Edgar Allen Poe means by his definition of poetry.
Sorry, this is mine!
Delete-Mary F.
Annabel R.
DeleteIn Response to Mary
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite poets too! Poetry is beauty, bu sometimes people don't understand the meaning of the poem so they don't realize that the poem is actually really nice.
~LUCY V.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is ordinary language raised to the nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words.” – Paul Engle
I chose this poem because I LOVE the way Paul Engle wrote this. I hate it when people write things that have NO meaning. The way he wrote this is so beautiful. it makes it seem as if poetry is like humans, in a way. It makes the words seem alive. It shows a different way of looking at poetry. You can look at it as if it is just boring old words with confusing sentences, or you can look at it the way Paul Engle wrote it. You can read it, and feel like you are there in the poetry.
I think this definition means that poetry is beautiful. It is made up of ideas and emotions. I think this means that poetry is something amazing, put together by emotions and ideas of the author. Poetry is something mystical, and the only reason poetry does not swarm among us is because it is held together by a delicate yet tough skin of words, which prevents the poems from escaping into our world where we could listen to the callings of poems forever.
Poetry is something that can show us ideas and better ways to live. Poems can be silly, or they can be meaningful. I personally like the meaningful poems the most.
I am responding to Annabel.
I agree with you. In good poetry you can really see, feel, hear, touch, smell, and sense the meaning. I was thinking that the "Words that burn"
part means that poetry has deep meanings, meanings that can burn their way into you.
I disagree with you on your last part. I do not think it means that ideas can be bad. I think it means that poetry is something you can sense and have very deep meanings.
Responsing to Lucy V.
DeleteI agree with you I cant stand when poetry has no meaning. But I like how paul Engle makes everything realistic not just all butterflies and ponys.I also agree on how you said ideas can be bad because not all ideas are good because to do well you have to do bad.
Evan T.
~Anthony Hopkins responding to Lucy
DeleteI also agree with you I can't stand it when poets make poems and they make NO sense. Like that Billy Collins Mrs. Shaum showed us today. He makes no sense nobody likes him. But poems can still be good if they don't rhyme they just have to make sense.
I am responding to Lucy:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! I do not like it when people write things that have no meaning. It is just confusing and annoying. He did write the poem so beautiful. Poetry does make things feel alive, in a way; if you know what I mean. I think people understand poetry the best when the put their whole heart into it, and they put their happiness, their sadness, and their excitement. They have to give it their all. Poems keep us together.
I disagree with you about poems being "meaningful". If you read a book that is has all "meaningful" poems, it gets boring hearing things over and over and over again! I like reading the silly poems, because they make me laugh and I can never get enough of them! I know you would like them.
-Mary F.
(Mrs. Shaum, do you like my paragraphs!?!? I like them too!! :D)
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I think it has a lot of meaning and wonder to it. I never fail to enjoy a little wonder in my life. Meaning plays a big role in my life, I never say something or do something without some sort of backup or reason to do such thing. Without the meaning of things in my life, I'd be lost in a sea of swirling thoughts and confusions.
I think that this means that people need to stop thinking about how things are supposed to be and start thinking about what things could be, and that's beautiful in every kind of way. Anything we want usually is broken up into pieces, not flowing, we need to take away the thoughts that it is not beautiful enough to be whole and fix it ourselves.
responding to Lucy-
I do not enjoy it when people write such things (as in non-meaningful things 0_0) that does not mean it is ludicrous to write them. Sure, it is not a pleasure to read a thrown together last-minute preparation but sometimes those things can mean a lot more than what you'd normally think.
Olivia K
Evan T.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
I chose this poem because somehow I know the poet and that it says it need to rhyme. I also agree with it because it says poetry had to rhyme and thats what I think also.I think that this definition of poetry means a few things. 1 that all poems must rhyme. 2 that it is expressed by word and beauty.and lastly 3 is that poems are created by the poet expressing beauty.
Dominik Lubanski this is my dads and my favorite auther and i'm doing a poem by the same poet
DeleteAmelia B.
ReplyDelete"Poetry is a literature of brushstrokes" ~Nikki Grimes
I chose this definition of Poetry because it speaks to me. The word "brushstrokes" makes me think of a painting which then leads me to think of the word "beautiful". I enjoy the thought of the word beautiful because it frees my mind of all of the happenings in the world that are not so beautiful. It lets my mind wonder to good things.
I think this means that poetry is beautiful, like the smooth and precise brushstrokes on a beautiful painting. It means that poetry is beautiful in the sense that, even though sometimes it seems like it doesn't make any sense, there are many ways to interpret a single poem; it can mean anything you want it to mean. Just like a painting.
Replying to Annabel-
I do agree that sometimes thoughts or ideas seem great in your head, but don't turn out as well as you thought written down. But I also think that no idea is a bad one; it's just different. The word "bad" could mean a lot of different things. It just depends on what the reader (or even writer) thinks.
Micaela Fraser
ReplyDelete“Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.” – Dennis Gabor I choose this one because when someone writes poetry, they write what they think, and the writing is coming from their hearts.
I think what Dennis Gabor is saying is that poetry is coming from the heart, and when people appreciate it, it speaks to them. If people don't appreciate poetry than poetry has no meaning, but when people do listen to poetry and appreciate it than it becomes a song that is so beautiful you will want to listen to it again. Some people think poetry has to make sense to be a good poem it doesn't, the poems that Dr. Seuss write are funny, the poems that Edgar Allan Poe write are beautiful but some people think poetry has o be written a certain way and so the don't like Edgar Allan Poe because they think he's to serious, or they don't like Dr. Seuss because poetry isn't supposed to be funny. Many people don't get that poetry is supposed to speak to the heart, and poetry doesn't have to make sense.
Replying to Mary,
Edgar Allan Poe is a cool poet!
Poetry is beauty but I think it is beauty because it speaks to the heart and after the poem is read people will say that was a beautiful poem.
~Anthony Hopkins
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
I chose this definition because this is the one that speaks to the way I understand poetry.
I think that this means that when you make a poem it's not just the words it's the way the words are read. It all flows with the rest of the words. It's so beautiful when the words come together.
"poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words"-Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeletei chose this definition of poetry because it is exactly how it really is and it is the most creative.
I think it means that poetry is sheer beauty in word format. It also means that the words are still beautiful even when they don't make sense. Also it means that it rhymes which is what rhythmical means.
Ella T.
replying to Annabel-
DeleteI totally agree with you about the rain and how you can feel it. But i kind of also disagree because sometimes poems don't have any description at all.
Mary F.-
DeleteHa ha, yes. I agree.
Gabby B- I agree that is exactly what i was thinking
DeletePeople you sound so smart! Like poem geniuses, like a William Shakespeare and Albert Einstein combine! Hey, i agree with you.... The poem actually makes sense. I guess I've got some poet brains too. SMILE
DeleteHazel Lyman
Craig B.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.” – Dennis Gabor
I chose this because I agree with it and it gives you a good way to understand and like poetry better.
This means to me that poetry is a wonderful thing. It means that they are many different emotions. Poetry is a positive thing and you should be happy. You can laugh and be sad also. That is what I think.
I also agree with Evan that poetry has to rhyme.
Bridgett B
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
means beauty great rhythmical of love
l
I like the rhythmic too Ella.
Evan Widdis
ReplyDeletePoetry is a literature of brushstrokes. -Nikki Grimes
This means that poetry is a work of art, sometimes it is modern art and you can't understand it. But sometimes it is so obvious what the meaning of the poem is that you feel like your in it. But not all of the paintings are good so you don't like it. But that obviously is not your kind of poetry!!!!!!!!!!! So if you keep looking for your perfect poem you will find it!!!!!!!!!!
Responding to Lucy
I also hate it when a poet writes a poem that you just can't find out what it means!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That means you red wheel barrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spencer M.
ReplyDelete"Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn." Thomas Gray
I did this one because it sounds cool "words that burn" that sounds awesome!!
Ithink my definition means that if you breathe words will come out kike fire. Also when you breathe fire you will burn someone and they will be caught on fire. Also I think this means that if you have a bad thought and everyone doesn't like the thought they will think that the other people will have better ideas so they can burn him.
Responding to Anthony
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because I also think that the words should flow good with eachother.
Spencer M.
"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words"-Robert Frost. I choose this definition because what Robert Frost said is true. When you thin of something good you want to write it down you are turning your thoughts into words.
ReplyDeleteTo me this definition means that when you have thoughts in your head then you want to spill it out on the paper and when you spill the words out on the paper you have just made poetry. That is when you turn your thoughts into words. Anything can be poetry as long as you think it is. Poetry doesn't have to rhyme it doesn't have to be short it doesn't have to be long. As long as you think its good or as long as you think it makes sense it dosnt matter what everyone else thinks.
“Poetry is the art of saying everything and reducing it to nothing.” – Barbara Hyett.this poetry really caught my eye when i read it because i really agree with it and it is funny because it is the truth.I chose this definition because it is true, poetry says a lot but it is in very little words.
ReplyDeleteTo me this definition means that you try to fit so much in about 10 short lines so it doesnt always make sense and that is poetry. I think this quote also means that poetry has no rules it just has to have really short lines. i like how Barbara Hyett is saying how poetry is short but meaningful.
Responding to Amelia
i really liked the quote that you did amd the way you explained it because it made me think of it and how it is like painting a beautiful painting.
~
Melinda
Chown
Elena Rauch
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe. I chose this definition because I agree with it the most. I really think that like it because that is the way I look at a poem- a story that rhymes.
I think this means that poetry is a beautiful story in a shorter amount of words. They are still words, but some people might take it as more beautiful since the words rhyme. I also think it means that it gives more emotion to the words.
Ella-I completely agree with you about the thing you wrote about how even though a poem is nonsense, people take it seriously.
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeleteI chose this definition because that's how most poems are, a beautiful creation in rhythmical words.
I think this means that poetry is still a beautiful story, just shorter. I also think that because the words rhythm the story is even more beautiful. Poetry is beautiful, and some people don't see that.
Lucy, I completely agree with you when you said poetry is made up of ideas and emotions.
~Lydia B.
Annie M.
ReplyDelete"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words." Edgar Allen Poe
I chose this definition because I think poetry could be someone's feelings about something and when they choose to write about something they like they will probably want to make it beautiful.I don't always like poems, and I usually don't understand them but I agree with what Ella said about words still being beautiful even when they don't make sense. I also agree with what Evan T said about poems being expressed with words and beauty because even poems about bad things could still be written beautifully.
"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words"-Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeleteI choose this definition of poetry because, to me that's what poetry is. Another reason I choose it was because it made sense to me. I liked this poem because it was short and simple. I like funny poems more than beautiful ones. To me one of the obvious marks of a poem is rhyming. I definitely agree with this poets description of poetry
In response to Craig
I agree that poetry can have mixed emotions.
Jake R.
Poetry is when emotion has found it's thought and the thought has found words - Robert Frost
ReplyDeleteI picked this one because this is what I think poetry is because he is talking about emotion. And he is talking about how emotion and thought goes into poetry. So if you have thought and emotion you can create a great poem. I honestly really like this is poem because it's short and easy too read.
Kevin K.
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe, I agree because Shakespeare one of the nest known poets in the world made plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and more. Each of his plays had a wonderful(long) poem for example....
ReplyDeleteHamlet's "To be or not to be, that is the question."
To me this definition of poetry means that a creation of beauty has been created but in a body of wondrous words. But Edgar's poems were known for their creepiness. So it sort of makes me anxious to trust what a guy that writes creepy poems when he says “Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” but he is still a poet that knows more to poems than me. So I can trust him of what he says.
Jordan C.
I forgot to refer to another person's definition.
ReplyDeleteCraig-I agree what you say about poetry is emotional. I used to think poetry was always happy and had to rhyme but I'm learning it can show being sad, being mad, being scared. it is just like any other form of literature
Kevin K.
mason c.
ReplyDeletePoetry is a deal of joy, and pain, and wonder, with a dash of dictionary.
Khalil Griban
THis means that poems are wonderous, and painful, and joyful with a little bit of dictionary this poem summarises what poetry is.I picked it because i think that this is really poetry and it is exactly as I would say poetry is. Poetry is exactly like that because it can hurt give you wonder or happiness
Jordan I agree with you on your responce of edgar allen poes definition. He does write creepy poems and then have that ddefinition
Patrick Sullivan
ReplyDelete"Poetry is thy is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words"-Edgar Allen Poe
I chose this poem because I fully disagree with Edgar. I think poetry is the opposite of rhythmical creation of beauty in words. POETRY IS SO BORING AND STUPID TO READ ECSPECIALLY WHEN IT RHYMES!!! I dont understand how people like poetry. I disagree with Annie McKee
Caroline Breen
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
The reason I picked this definition of a poem because, the way it speaks to me is incredible! How it describes the true meaning of poetry. In a poem there is rhythmical and beautiful. Also a great creation.
poetry is a deal of joy, and pain, and wonder, with a dashe full of joy of dictionary.
ReplyDeleteThis means that poems are full of joy.
i agree with mason. poems are wounderous
alex s
"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words."-Edgar Allen Poe. I like this definition of poetry because I think all poems should rhyme and have beautiful and strong words that you can feel. I like this because Edgar is a good famous poet that writes poems that get you thinking about the poems. This caught my eye because I Like how he said that you should use beautiful rhyming words. I didn't choose it because I disagree with it I chose it because I liked how this definition of poetry was worded.
ReplyDeleteMitchell P.
This is the one i chose too. I think it shares the true meaning of poetry!
Delete~Caroline B
~Caroline F.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
This means to me that poems are rhythmical and beautiful.
This means that poems rhyme and are beautiful. They don't always have to have proper grammar. They are all different.
Annie M- I agree with your response and think the same thing
"Poetry is thoughts that breath and words that burn"-Thomas Gray.
ReplyDeleteI chose this definition because it had hooked me in with the strong expressions used in the definition. Especially when I read "words that burn" made me think differently about poetry. About how strong each line can be. That is what I liked right away about it. I agree with this defintion because I look at it as your thoughts that you breathe and words and sentences that burn strongly in amazement. That is why I chose this definition.
Like I kind of explained earlier... I think that this definition means that the thoughts that you think and breathe , and the words that burn with amazement and explanation, is what this definition is all about. It is strong and straightforward, for such a good definition. And that is why I like this definition and what I think it means.
- I totally agree with Masons response on how poetry is like that in so many different ways.
~Ryan S.
I agree with you. But when everyone talks about poetry they sound like William Shakespeare and all of his fancy words. But in a way.... i understand what you're getting at.
DeleteHazel Lyman, 6-2
Madison Griffin
ReplyDelete"poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of dictionary"."- Kahlil Gibran
I chose this definition beacause I like the way that he worded the definition. What caught my eye were the words that Kahlil used.
What i think the definition means is that sometimes writing poems can be joyful it can be painful and filled with wonders.
I agree with you Alex.
poetry is thoughts that breath and words that burn thomas gray
ReplyDeletei picked this definition because he used strong words but i dont like poetry that much and it doesnt really drag me in to it.
i think this definition means that he was doing something and the breathe and eplainaition that he said was really good
eric S
Dominik lubanski, Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.” – Percy Shelley.I chose this definition because it hooked me.I think this means that poems don't have to look at poems stait and say that it dosn't make sense.miorrs are revective and so are poems
ReplyDelete“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” – Robert Frost
ReplyDeleteI choose these because poetry is when the poet puts his/her thoughts on something. When an emotion has found they thought in your head that means that your thought has found your poem. I agree with Anthony about his quote.
~~~~Rachel Malinowski~~~~
Bridgett B
ReplyDelete“Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” – Thomas Gray
i really don't like poetry I do like Dr.Seuss but i really hate it so i like this month but i don't like it because its poetry and i lot of people hate poetry it get annoy really really at times but its really good that we have spring break because it takes a lot of poetry month off
i disagree with Annie m and Caroline
-Dennis B.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” – Thomas Gray
I chose this poem because I thought that this gave a bad explanation of poetry. I think this way because the words won't burn if you can't understand them.
I think that this definition means that all the words have meaning. With the sentences alive and all the strong words poems should be great. That's what this definition is saying to me.
Dennis B.
ReplyDeleteResponding to Anthony
I really disagree with you Anthony, poems aren't beautiful to me they're just..... BLAH! I just couldn't disagree with you more.
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” – Edgar Allen Poe
ReplyDeleteI chose this definition because it has an interesting way of explaining poetry. I don't agree with it i just like it. I think this because it isn't a beauty of words in my mind.
I think this definition means that you can create beauty with poems.
Responding to dennis. I agree dennis poetry is very hard to understand.
John M
"Poetry is the thoughts that breathe and the words that burn" - Thomas Gray
ReplyDeleteI chose this poem because it is the most confusing. I do not understand poetry AT ALL, so therefore choosing this particular poem, explains my feelings for poetry in a way you might not understand. To me this poem means poetry is alive, when Thomas gray says:
"Poetry is the thoughts that breathe"
But the second part is just...... nothing. i mean words don't burn! I know it is an expression but what does THAT even mean?! You can't just use expressions to explain your life! If we did everyone would just be saying:
"My mind prances in the snow, and soars on the leaves."
or something completely nut like that. But that is how the world is, full of expressions, poetry and ways to tell a story.
Hazel Lyman, 6-2
MAX RUFFING
ReplyDelete“Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” – Thomas Gray
I chose this defintion becase it was the olny one i looked at that made sense at all, When a poet thinks of somting then he right it down in verse and and maybe in rythem themit becomes to burn because iths awsomer...?
Responding to john: maybe some comas in there some where,<-- see that thing Yeah thats called a Coma. I do not aggree with you at all thats why Im giving you such a hard time about commas XD
Annie R
ReplyDelete"poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of dictionary"- Kahlil Gibrah
I chose this definition because it is exactly what i thought the definition of poetry meant.Poetry can have joy and pain with lots of wonder. I think that poetry is like playing a deck of cards. You get whatis passed out to you with a lot of wonder.
Bridgett- I agree that poetry is not that fun. i do like Dr. Suess a lot. Poetry needs something more to it.
poetry is a deal of joy and wonder and pain with a dash of dictoinatary.
ReplyDeleteKahlil Gibrah\
i like this peom because i think it is inspiring to all.
i thikn this defenition means that even tohugh its hard to look at stuff you still have to do it.No matter what happens you will always have to look stuff up. This poem is actually a little confusing to me too though.
Bridgett i agree i love dr sues.
eloise c
Lanie C.
ReplyDelete“Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.” – Percy Shelley
I chose this definition because I liked the confusing way they explained poetry in a way that makes sense.
I think it means the poetry has a sorta... well ugly duckling effect it looks horrible and repulsive at first but eventually becomes beautiful like the "duck" became a swan. (if that makes any sense what so ever ;P)Poetry doesn't look amazing at first but eventually you get and out pops the amazing. (Once again if that makes any sense)
I'm responding to mary:
I agree with you about that whole Jewel thing.(Cool comparison by the way)