Poetry Reading Response

Jacob Sutton 808

 Poetry Reading Response

 

            There are as many ways to interpret a poem as there are readers of poetry and it is often the case that people tend to overanalyze the meanings in poetry, losing the spirit of the poem along the way. As is typical of middle school poetry units, in our ELA class, our poetry unit has focused on what poems mean.  For days, our class tried to figure out a poem’s meaning, only to discover that a poem’s interpretation varies depending on the reader’s perspective.  Therefore, poems can have many meanings and interpretations.  The poem “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins demonstrates the idea that poetry can and should be enjoyed for its particular images, but should not be overanalyzed.

            In “Introduction to Poetry”, Billy Collins suggests that the reader should not over-think the meaning of the poem, but rather enjoy the images and rhythms of its words. In stanza 5, lines 9 and 10, he conveys this feeling with the thought, “I want them to waterski, across the surface of a poem”.  Collins tries to convey to the reader that it may not always be necessary to go deep into the poem but rather, “hold it up to the light” (stanza 1, line 2) and appreciate the words, images and rhythms that are evident on the poem’s surface.    

             The reader, according to Collins, does not necessarily appreciate the essence of the poem.  He makes a strong case for the over analysis that occurs at the poem’s expense.  In the sixth stanza (lines 13-15), Collins creates the image of the poem as a victim of torture when he says, “But all they want to do, is tie the poem to a chair with rope, and torture a confession out of it.”  And again in the seventh stanza, (lines 16-17) he strengthens his image when he says, “They begin beating it with a hose, to find out what it really means”.  These images reflect Collins’ sentiment that the reader has lost the appreciation of the genre by seeking meaning where it may not exist.

             Billy Collins has called upon the reader to appreciate the poem for what it is, suggesting that a poem’s innate gifts -- its rhythm and images, are sometimes much more powerful than the continued quest for meaning.  Readers of the poem need to be more respectful of the genre.  In the simplicity of his poem, Collins has made a great case for preserving the nature of poetry.