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FEATURE
Finding the ordinary extraordinary in easily and accessible everyday poetry
Local lyrism. Andrew Fredrick, Shawnee senior, writes a few lines of verse outside Henry's on Eighth. Writing poetry may seem intimidating at first, but find a genre you're comfortable with and feel free to explore from there.
Rab-rab-ab-ab-ab-
Roma-roma-mama
Ga-ga-oob-la-la
Want your bad romance
you might not think Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" song is poetry,but it is. Some might not consider it poetry because it doesn't have an ordinary
rhyming pattern, or that it contains made-up words. Some people might even dismiss it purely because the lyrics are by Lady Gaga (which may be the most valid argument). Even so, millions of people across the world admire these lyrics as poetry.
Classifying strings of interjections as prose is not necessary to appreciate the overall art, but consider that many different forms qualify as poetry. Poetry is in our everyday lives and it is for
everyone. It isn't just rhyming lines of text written by Robert Frost, Shakespeare and men with berets in coffee shops. Poetry places a handle on the concept of language with rhythm and imagery. It is an expression of thought and it encourages others to think. Poetry is used as a lens to see the world in new ways.
There is a tremendous amount of variety in poetic writing that can help you find a style you like and appreciate. Prospero's Books in Kansas City, Mo., held a marathon poetry reading this April. Will Leathem, organizer of the reading and co-owner of Prosperos, says performers read romantic, nonsense, musical, humorous and dramatic poems. One gentleman even performed the entire second book of John Milton's *Pandise Lost* from memory. Leathem organized the event to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest poetry reading. People came from across the country to read at the marathon and
help break the old record of 56 hours and 25 minutes, which was set in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978. Poets of all writing levels and styles read and successfully set the new world record — 120 hours of continuous poetry.
There are many varieties of poetry to choose from. Find an entry point that works best for you to learn about and appreciate writing. Poetry that is integrated with music is one way to attract interest. "We all have listened to lyric poetry set to music and enjoyed it," Calvin McConnell, Shawnee sophomore, says. McConnell is one of the hosts for KJHK's program Word, which blends popular music and hip-hop with slam and traditional poetry. Word helps listeners acquire an affinity for other types of poetry by introducing the idea that hip-hop is poetry with a beat behind it, McConnell says.
Mickey Cesar, graduate teaching assistant in creative writing, first developed an interest in
poetry by listening to the lyrics of his favorite musical artists. Cesar says looking up the lyrics to your favorite songs is a good way to start. Examining these lyrics can help you discover what you enjoy. Many students haven't found anything appealing from previous exposures to poetry and aren't interested. Like many things, poetry should be given multiple chances. "Most students' previous exposure is to poems that are very formal and not very relevant to the world they live in." Cesar says. He notes that many people are turned off from poetry because of their experiences in high school.
In high school, a poem is approached as a problem that has to be solved, Ryan Thornton, Lenexa sophomore and co-host of Word says. "People have to get the right meaning out of it, or they fail. If you just take it or leave it, it becomes a lot more approachable."
Poetry can also be intimidating. "Poetry is
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