Branching out

If you have been reading my blog lately, you may have noticed that I only write about novels. This is not because I find them superior to other books. I just seem to read them more often. This week I decided to branch out a bit and talk about something I almost never talk about: poetry.

I hate poetry. I despise it. I abhor it. I detest it. I loathe it.

When I read a poem, I have no method. I should have one, but I don't. I just sit and stare at the poem and wait for the enlightenment to hit.

Since I am an English minor, I should probably work on my poetry reading skills, but until then I will enjoy the only form of poetry that makes sense to me: song lyrics.

A few years ago I stumbled across a book called "Revolution on Canvas." It's a collection of poems by punk and alternative musicians. Despite the fact that poetry was just a bunch of jumbled words on a page to me, some of the poems in the book magically made sense. I even found myself identifying with some of them and appreciate the beauty and complexity of the emotions expressed.

Maybe some poetry readers will tell you to deconstruct the poem with a sense of detachment. Don't involve your own emotions in the reading or you'll miss the point the poet was trying to make. But one of my favorite things about song lyrics is that you're supposed to identify with them and apply them to your own situation. I love the poems in this book because I can make them mine.

So I encourage any budding song writers, or anyone who just doesn't like poetry, to give it another chance. Pick up "Revolution on Canvas 2" in a store near you.