Poetry

» Linda Sue Grimes - Words in a Poem

Many people think that when words are used to compose a "poem," they somehow become like a piece of clay; the reader can mold them into whatever shape he/she likes. Otherwise, what accounts for the foolish notion that "a poem can anything you want it to mean"?

Please be aware of this: words in poems still retain their denotation meaning. They may, in fact, also take on come connotative meaning, and they may be used in poetic devices such as metaphors, which require interpretation. But interpretation is impossible without meaning.

Please: always begin by realizing that words still have their original meanings, even when you encounter them in poems.

Without this first step, understanding and interpreting poetry become impossible.

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