A forum search for "poems" in the title, revealed a list of threads, but that is mostly for poems forum readers have made themselves. A search for "Poetry" gives this list including some that deal with works of poetry, but perhaps we could have a general thread with more sharings of the kind of poems we like to read. In terms of forum category, a single poem can be a book. Often it isn't, but it is still a text that can be read.
What I find interesting about poems that have rhythm and rhymes is that they are texts that are halfway to music. Another observation is that in some poems, there seems to be meaning by added or indicated silence. This is different from a prose text, where more meaning is often added by using more words, or by rephrasing or elaborating what has been written. Perhaps it is not so much the silence that adds meaning, as it is the time it gives to reflect and create associations.
The Wiki about poetry has:
While poems are often short, there are also long poems, many of them very old. Here are some links from the Wiki:
Below are a couple of poems, I recently encountered in a discussion relating to the human condition. I highlighted the lines for which the poems might be more known. It was the search for the origin that led to the context in which they originally appeared.
The first is quoted from a site called Poem Analysis, which presents poems along with comments on the structure and meaning.
The next, Auguries of Innocence by William Blake is from Poets.org. The format of the site allows copy-past more easily, except that the "&" is written as "&" so I corrected that. As you will see, this poem is much longer and more complex and difficult than the previous. It can help a lot to read an analysis, like this from Poem Analysis. At the same time, there can be a challenge trying to understand the lines oneself before looking up what others think.
What I find interesting about poems that have rhythm and rhymes is that they are texts that are halfway to music. Another observation is that in some poems, there seems to be meaning by added or indicated silence. This is different from a prose text, where more meaning is often added by using more words, or by rephrasing or elaborating what has been written. Perhaps it is not so much the silence that adds meaning, as it is the time it gives to reflect and create associations.
The Wiki about poetry has:
To distinguish, there is this about lyrics:Poetry (from the Greek word poiesis, "making") is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic[1][2][3] qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, literal or surface-level meanings. Any particular instance of poetry is called a poem and is written by a poet. Poets use a variety of techniques called poetic devices, such as assonance, alliteration, euphony and cacophony, onomatopoeia, rhythm (via metre), and sound symbolism, to produce musical or incantatory effects. Most poems are formatted in verse: a series or stack of lines on a page, which follow a rhythmic or other deliberate pattern. For this reason, verse has also become a synonym (a metonym) for poetry.[note 1]
Few read lyrics, they listen to the song, and for sharing that there is the What are you listening to? thread. Still, if there are lyrics you enjoy for their own sake, not for the melody, or the singer, then they could fit the topic of this thread.
While poems are often short, there are also long poems, many of them very old. Here are some links from the Wiki:
- List of epic poems
- List of world folk-epics
- List of poems in Chinese or by Chinese poets
- List of long poems in English
- List of nursery rhymes
Below are a couple of poems, I recently encountered in a discussion relating to the human condition. I highlighted the lines for which the poems might be more known. It was the search for the origin that led to the context in which they originally appeared.
The first is quoted from a site called Poem Analysis, which presents poems along with comments on the structure and meaning.
William H. Davies lived 1871-1940, and during his lifetime the means of transportation picked up speed, cars were introduced and became common, ships became motorized rather than powered by steam or wind, planes were invented and made transatlantic travel a matter of hours.Leisure By William H. Davies
‘Leisure’ is one of the best-known poems written by the Welsh poet W. H. Davies. In this poem, Davies highlights how modernity alienated us from simplicity.
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?-
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
The next, Auguries of Innocence by William Blake is from Poets.org. The format of the site allows copy-past more easily, except that the "&" is written as "&" so I corrected that. As you will see, this poem is much longer and more complex and difficult than the previous. It can help a lot to read an analysis, like this from Poem Analysis. At the same time, there can be a challenge trying to understand the lines oneself before looking up what others think.
On YouTube, one can find readings of the above poems. Some are set to moving or still images, with the text appearing on the screen, in others there is added background music. It can also be an exercise to try to read a poem aloud oneself. To do it well can require practice. There is more to reading a poem than the correct pronunciation of the words.Auguries of Innocence
William Blake 1757 –1827
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage
A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thr' all its regions
A dog starvd at his Masters Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State
A Horse misusd upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear
A Skylark wounded in the wing
A Cherubim does cease to sing
The Game Cock clipd & armd for fight
Does the Rising Sun affright
Every Wolfs & Lions howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul
The wild deer, wandring here & there
Keeps the Human Soul from Care
The Lamb misusd breeds Public Strife
And yet forgives the Butchers knife
The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that wont Believe
The Owl that calls upon the Night
Speaks the Unbelievers fright
He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belovd by Men
He who the Ox to wrath has movd
Shall never be by Woman lovd
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spiders enmity
He who torments the Chafers Sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night
The Catterpiller on the Leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly
For the Last Judgment draweth nigh
He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar
The Beggars Dog & Widows Cat
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat
The Gnat that sings his Summers Song
Poison gets from Slanders tongue
The poison of the Snake & Newt
Is the sweat of Envys Foot
The poison of the Honey Bee
Is the Artists Jealousy
The Princes Robes & Beggars Rags
Are Toadstools on the Misers Bags
A Truth thats told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent
It is right it should be so
Man was made for Joy & Woe
And when this we rightly know
Thro the World we safely go
Joy & Woe are woven fine
A Clothing for the soul divine
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine
The Babe is more than swadling Bands
Throughout all these Human Lands
Tools were made & Born were hands
Every Farmer Understands
Every Tear from Every Eye
Becomes a Babe in Eternity
This is caught by Females bright
And returnd to its own delight
The Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar
Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of Death
The Beggars Rags fluttering in Air
Does to Rags the Heavens tear
The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun
Palsied strikes the Summers Sun
The poor Mans Farthing is worth more
Than all the Gold on Africs Shore
One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands
Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands
Or if protected from on high
Does that whole Nation sell & buy
He who mocks the Infants Faith
Shall be mockd in Age & Death
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt
The rotting Grave shall neer get out
He who respects the Infants faith
Triumphs over Hell & Death
The Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons
The Questioner who sits so sly
Shall never know how to Reply
He who replies to words of Doubt
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out
The Strongest Poison ever known
Came from Caesars Laurel Crown
Nought can Deform the Human Race
Like to the Armours iron brace
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow
A Riddle or the Crickets Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply
The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will neer Believe do what you Please
If the Sun & Moon should Doubt
Theyd immediately Go out
To be in a Passion you Good may Do
But no Good if a Passion is in you
The Whore & Gambler by the State
Licencd build that Nations Fate
The Harlots cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet
The Winners Shout the Losers Curse
Dance before dead Englands Hearse
Every Night & every Morn
Some to Misery are Born
Every Morn and every Night
Some are Born to sweet delight
Some are Born to sweet delight
Some are Born to Endless Night
We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in Night
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day