![]() ![]() Then, finally, reread it again and focus on each line-go line by line. After this, reread the poem and focus on each stanza-go stanza by stanza. ![]() RACHEL BRUMBACH: When reading a poem for the first time, instead of becoming caught up in trying to decipher every single word's meaning and every line's meaning, just read the poem the whole way through without stopping, really absorbing the tone and mood of the poem first. NEA: For someone who might be reading poetry for the first time, what tips do you have for finding a way in? ![]() So… where do we start? We asked three poets and teachers for their advice: Rachel Brumbach (English teacher at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) Adrian Matejka (Ruth Lilly Professor/Poet-in-Residence at Indiana University mostly recently the author of The Big Smoke) and Tyler Meier (executive director of the Poetry Center at the University of Arizona). But for those of us who don’t read poetry on a regular basis, the prospect of opening a book of poetry-and going as far as to talk about it-might seem daunting. ![]() “Do you ask what a song means before you listen? Just listen.” Harjo’s book of selected poems, How We Became Human, is one of the recent additions to the NEA Big Read library, along with two other books of poetry: Citizen by Claudia Rankine and Book of Hours by Kevin Young. “Don't worry about what a poem means,” says poet Joy Harjo. ![]()
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