I’ve thought a bit more about what you shared with us here re pacing and commas/punctuation etc.—thank you for these details and insights. I then revisited the poem and read it aloud to myself a few times. I used to read poems aloud to myself more regularly, to both slow down and connect with the poem more deeply, meaning, to literally listen to it speak. I will pick up again with this way of reading/listening—it is a kind of mediation practice for me in a way.
Overall, your piece/offering reminded me that yes, listening to a poem is such an important piece of the process of discovery/writing/crafting/constructing/refining etc., and it also reminded me of a great line of W.S. Merwin’s that I think about often, that “poetry begins and ends with listening.” Indeed, it does.
When we read aloud (again, at least for me), there is a heightened sense of presence and connection, along with a grounding or centeredness, even a tethering perhaps—holding on to a kite comes to mind—which often allows us to wander around with and within the poem, to join in and/or enter the journey of feeling/thought/memory/image/language etc. Pacing is an essential tool (a control/frame/steady guide etc.) that leads us through the experience of the poem. I really appreciated your idea of using pacing as a way to create “breathing room.”Also loved your line of thought that you “think of the commas as cushioning those words with air.”
Perhaps, in a future ‘craft tip’ post (if it is not already on your list), I would love to read about your thinking/approach to spacing and/or the use of white space on the page etc., particularly in your poems “Threshold” and/or “Invisible Architecture”, or any other. Really appreciated this post—great food for thought and writing—thank you! 🔅🔆
I love the way a poem changes when you change the line-breaks and lengths. Sometimes I make so many variations that more than one work, and I’ve created two poems, and I have trouble choosing one! Time eventually tells me which is better. And of course, listening closely when I read aloud. I love these pacing craft tips -- they help me teach my 9th grade poetry students, too!
I’ve thought a bit more about what you shared with us here re pacing and commas/punctuation etc.—thank you for these details and insights. I then revisited the poem and read it aloud to myself a few times. I used to read poems aloud to myself more regularly, to both slow down and connect with the poem more deeply, meaning, to literally listen to it speak. I will pick up again with this way of reading/listening—it is a kind of mediation practice for me in a way.
Overall, your piece/offering reminded me that yes, listening to a poem is such an important piece of the process of discovery/writing/crafting/constructing/refining etc., and it also reminded me of a great line of W.S. Merwin’s that I think about often, that “poetry begins and ends with listening.” Indeed, it does.
When we read aloud (again, at least for me), there is a heightened sense of presence and connection, along with a grounding or centeredness, even a tethering perhaps—holding on to a kite comes to mind—which often allows us to wander around with and within the poem, to join in and/or enter the journey of feeling/thought/memory/image/language etc. Pacing is an essential tool (a control/frame/steady guide etc.) that leads us through the experience of the poem. I really appreciated your idea of using pacing as a way to create “breathing room.”Also loved your line of thought that you “think of the commas as cushioning those words with air.”
Perhaps, in a future ‘craft tip’ post (if it is not already on your list), I would love to read about your thinking/approach to spacing and/or the use of white space on the page etc., particularly in your poems “Threshold” and/or “Invisible Architecture”, or any other. Really appreciated this post—great food for thought and writing—thank you! 🔅🔆
"begins and ends with listening"--yes! Will absolutely write more about white space and using the field of the page. Thanks for this. M
I love the way a poem changes when you change the line-breaks and lengths. Sometimes I make so many variations that more than one work, and I’ve created two poems, and I have trouble choosing one! Time eventually tells me which is better. And of course, listening closely when I read aloud. I love these pacing craft tips -- they help me teach my 9th grade poetry students, too!