Reading poetry requires both attitude and technique. The attitude in W. B. Yeats’ poetry “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is the emotional response to the poem, depicted by the speaker’s deep longing for a peaceful place. The technique component was the poem’s structure, such as vivid imagery and sensory language, which helped me in seeing and engaging with the speaker’s desires. Lines such as “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore” express emotions. In my experience both of these components, attitude and technique, come together to create a deeper emotional reading experience through which I can find the poem’s themes and appreciate the work of art.
Daily Archives: October 27, 2023
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“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” This quote from the reading “How to Read Poem” by Edward Hirsch reveals that to read a poem we require a sense of mindset and skills to interpret it. The poem that I most resonate is the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree“. For most people when they first read the poem they might find it easy to interpret it. Some might know it from the title itself and what the narrator is talking about. However, for me I didn’t know what Innisfree was so initially when I first read the poem I thought that the narrator must have wanted to go somewhere far. Far away from humans, away from everyone and everything. The afterlife or the haven I thought. Maybe it was meant to be a depressing poem. Nevertheless, after reading the lines again and discussing the poem together with classmates I found out that it was the lake the lake isle of Innisfree where the narrator wanted to visit. A place where he will find peace and joy “And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made” (Hirsch). After the pandemic I’ve learned or should I say enjoyed my own company so time to time I’ll think about building a house far away in the woods which is impossible right now so whenever I feel burnout I try to go to a quite place like the lake down the block, where there are few people and try to reset my mind. “And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow” (Hirsch).
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” Poetry has the power to spark your curiosity and make you want to learn more about its meaning. Reading poetry might be challenging. It requires practice, and as you advance, your knowledge and abilities get better. In her poem “Train to Brooklyn,” Patricia Jackson describes how she arrives in Brooklyn feeling calm and focused. Based on my own experience, the Bronx remains my home and my childhood neighborhood despite all the strange things that go on there. “Where I’ve tried and failed,” (26). I prefer to go to the Bronx to get myself through tough times. Living in a multicultural neighborhood allows me to feel like I can be myself because of the diversity of music and cultures. The New York Botanical Garden and the zoo are the ideal places to visit in the Bronx if you enjoy the outdoors. Personally, I enjoy taking walks in Central Park while listening to my favorite music.
To paraphrase Edward Hirsch’s quote, “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” I feel like I could say that “approaching a poem requires a combination of ways of thinking and methods.” Edward Hirsch’s assertion that one’s approach to poetry is influenced by one’s way of thinking and the skills one has developed applies. The mindset and attitude I bring to a poem often sets the tone for how I receive it. When you approach a work with openness and curiosity, you find that you can become more immersed in the world the poet has created. On the other hand, techniques that involve understanding poetic devices, structures, and nuances increase the depth of my appreciation and interpretation. There were times when I was enjoying my time alone, thinking of the words of great people from the past. It’s embarrassing haha. A good example is “The Island of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats. The poem’s longing for solace and its vivid depiction of nature resonate deeply with me. This sentiment especially connects with me because in today’s fast-paced world [which can also be described as the speed of human progress], the yearning for peace and simplicity is even stronger. The line “”And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,” speaks to my own desire for tranquility and a slower pace of life.
“How to read Poem is part attitude and part technique.” To restate the quote with reference to Hirsch’s idea of intensification is: Engaging with a poem involves a blend of personal disposition and acquired skills. In my personal experience with reading poetry, I find that Edward Hirsch’s statement, “reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” is true. When approaching a poem , the attitude which I engage with the text greatly influences my understanding and appreciation of it .Having an open and receptive attitude allows me to connect with the emotions and ideas conveyed by the poet. For example , in William Butler Yeats’ poem “The lake Isle of Innisfree,” my attitude of longing for quietness and escape sound with the poem’s theme of seeking solace in nature. The opening lines of the poem, “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,” immediately captured my attention and bring to mind a sense of longing within me.
