How to Read a Poem

In the passage, "How To Read A Poem", the author describes that poetry will be more effective if the reader knows how to read poems. The author explains that poetry needs to be read with open thoughts. Not every poem can be perceived the way the reader wants to perceive it. Each poem has its own meaning(s), and own intention(s). While reading a poem, you want to be drawn to conversation and become engaged into the reading. Also the author suggests that the reader comes up with meaningful questions that have more than one answer. Rhythm and sound relate to the meanings of most poems and it is up to the reader to find out the meanings related to sound and rhythm of each poem. The author also gives suggestions to read the poem out loud, read it more than once, ask general questions, and breathe while reading the poems. This way it will let you grasp, connect, and understand more clearly. Out of reading "The Red Wheelbarrow", and discussing it in class, I heard other thoughts and ideas that lead me to the thought of maybe the meaning of the poem is patriotic, and makes people think about the small things that make a difference in their lives, but ones that are not thought about on a daily basis. I got the patriotic feeling from the RED wheelbarrow, the glazed rain (makes me think of BLUE) and the WHITE chicken. Red, White and Blue. Our nation’s national colors. Plus the very begining of the poem makes you think at first that whatever is depended upon is something great and almost powerful. Not just some wheelbarrow. But this gives us the impression there are many small things and without them, our lives would be a lot harder, even though we don’t think about how important these objects may be.