How Poetry Can Change Your Heart

Andrea Gibson, Megan Falley

• Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781452171807
• eBook ISBN: 9781452177403
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism in Poetry

How can a poem transform a life? Could poetry change the world? In this accessible volume, spoken-word stars Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley roll out the welcome mat and prove that poetry is for everyone. Whether lapsed poetry lovers, aspiring poets, or total novices, readers will learn to uncover verse in unexpected places, find their way through a poem when they don't quite "get it, " and discover just how transformative poetry can be. This is a gorgeous and inspiring gift for any fan of the written word.

HOW CAN I FIND POETRY THAT I LIKE?

EXPERIENCE POETRY FROM YOUR OWN HOME

Perhaps you’ve not read a poem since high school and have no clue where to start. Or maybe you’ve read only a handful of cherished authors, but are curious about what’s out there in the great poetic beyond. Perhaps you possess the planet’s largest poetry book collection but you’re still searching for new authors lurking in its pages. Wherever you are in your journey, welcome!

Anthologies are a great place to start, as they highlight the work of many different authors. Pick up an anthology of poems from your local library or bookstore. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or a banana milkshake, and sit down with an anthology as if it were a new friend you are psyched to get to know. You can start at the beginning of the book, or flip to any lucky page. Read it to yourself, or test it out loud. Talk to it. Let it talk to you.

Online literary journals work similarly, especially when you’re looking for a way to be enchanted by poetry for free. Explore the writing of a breadth of wordsmiths. If just one or two resonate with you––great! It probably won’t be difficult to find more of their work, and chances are, if they’ve written one thing you love, they’ve written a whole lot more!

Some inspiring online poetry journals are: Muzzle magazine, PANK, Rattle, Ploughshares, Poetry magazine, BOAAT journal, and The Offing. And a quick Google search will unlock a grand internet library. Many of these journals also provide printed editions, if you’re looking to disconnect from the World Wide Web and get your poetry fix on the Q train, or on the beaches of Brazil.

Hint: Think of reading poetry from journals (both in print and online) as similar to trying on jeans in a department store. Sometimes you have to try on piles of jeans before you find the pair that fits. You may need the same patience with poetry. The reward, though? Even greater: a brand-new wardrobe for your spirit.

YouTube has become a great resource for listening to poets read their work aloud without having to leave your home. Button Poetry and SlamFind are two YouTube channels that will give you front-row seats to the world of spoken word and performance poetry. Both feature a diverse cast of poets from around the world, performing their poems with passion and grit. Once you start watching, it may be difficult to stop. Move over, Netflix, poetry is coming to town!

LEAVE YOUR HOUSE FOR POETRY

“I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure.”

—VIRGINIA WOOLF

Public libraries are sexy! So are bookstores! Spend some time there perusing the poetry section. You can go alone or with a friend or even on a date. Try pulling a book off the shelf, any book, and landing your finger on a random page. It’s similar to a tarot reading: Imagine the poem you land on is a message just for you. Even if you don’t initially connect to the piece, do a little deeper digging to figure out the hows and whys of that poem finding you.

Take yourself to a live poetry experience. Research open mics and other poetry events in your area. These can take place in libraries, bookstores, cafés, theaters, cemeteries, bars, universities, and even barber shops! There are so many readings throughout the world, and visiting those spaces while traveling is a great way to get a sense of the local pulse. Many of these events are low-cost or free. Don’t be afraid to say hello to a poet if you were moved by their work. Consider striking up conversation with other audience members and exploring the differences and similarities of how the night’s art impacted you.

EXPERIENCE POETRY IN COMMUNITY

It might be daunting to start this journey into poetry on your own, so why not invite some friends? If you’re part of a book club, consider adding a poetry collection to the mix. Although a collection of poetry is indubitably shorter than a novel, there’s often just as much in it to discuss—if not more!

WHAT THE HECK IS A POETRY SLAM?

A poetry slam is a poetry competition. It was invented in the 1980s by a construction worker who dreamed of making poetry events more dynamic and riveting. At a poetry slam, five volunteers from the audience are given scorecards and asked to rate the poems on a scale from 0 to 10—a 10 being Prince descending from heaven to give you your own private concert, and a 0 being running late to your own wedding when a bird defecates on your head, and when you finally arrive at the altar, the bride changes her mind. Anyone can be a judge, as long as they don’t know any of the performers. Wildly, a judge could be someone who has never heard a poem in their life. The poets compete to move the audience, and the total democracy of judging has catapulted slam into an art form for the people.

There’s a good chance a poet...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Poetry Transforms
• Introduction
• What is Poetry, Anyway?
• Twenty-One Questions to ask on your first date with Poetry
• Poetry is Great Company
• Poetry as World Travel
• Wait— a Sad Poem can Make me Happy?
• Poetry as a Vehicle for Empathy
• Let’s Gush for a Moment about the Magic of Language
• Can Poetry Change the World?
• What you Really Need to Know (Or do You?)
• But what if I Still Don’t Get It?
• Finding Poetry Everywhere
• Poetry out Loud
• How can I Find Poetry that I Like?
• How can I Tell If a Poem is Good?
• The Gift of Awe
• Who can be a Poet? (Hint: Everyone)
• So you want to Write a Poem
• The Myth of Writer’s Block
• To Conclude
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Chronicle Ebooks