Reading Poetry - Kendal

Fundamentally, poetry is a form of art. Like all art, poetry is an expression of the poet. The entire reason someone writes a poem is to express something. Therefore, expression is the primary purpose of poetry. Through poetry, people can express a variety of ideas. They can critique a social or political issue, paint an image, convey emotions, or even simply entertain a child. In each case, the poem is written to achieve the goal of expressing the intended sentiment. Here are several examples to help illustrate this point:

In my research for the final reflective paper, I read several poems concerning postcolonialism. When analyzing poems as research for a paper, an important first step is to ask what the poem is trying to do. Once the purpose of the poem is determined, it is easier to contextualize it and build an argument around it. The poems I analyzed had varying themes and varying purposes. Some were a call to action. Others were to educate the reader. Many of them relied on an emotional response from the reader. With the purpose identified, it was possible to evaluate the argument within each poem.

One poem whose purpose was central to its meaning dealt with language. Ugandan poet Okot p’Bitek considered the quandary of language in his postcolonial poem, “Song of Ocol.” He writes, “Tell the world / In English or in French / Talk about / The African foundation / On which we are / Building the new nations / Of Africa” (1-7). Although an initial reading of this poem may suggest it is innocuous, consideration of its purpose underscores its significance. The purpose of this poem is to argue a point through the use of irony. The idea that Africans would voice their triumphs since independence in a language that is not their own ironically questions those claimed accomplishments. Furthermore, that English and French are direct remnants of imperialism and symbols of oppression, a corollary to the poem’s purpose is that it asserts dependency theory by discrediting Africa’s complete independence. With this detailed understanding of the poem’s purpose, the reader is able to appreciate the poem’s worth. It now takes on a whole new significance. Therefore, with the poem’s purpose established, it is possible to incorporate it into a research paper.

In a similar manner, in researching poems for my paper, I read each poem initially looking for its purpose. Once I recognized the author’s purpose for the poem, I saw aspects of the poem, such as diction and tone that now had a new significance in supporting the purpose. Through these particular aspects of the poem, I was able to better analyze the poem. This analysis was then incorporated into my paper as evidence for my thesis.

Fundamentally, every poem is created to have some function. By recognizing the purpose of the poem, the reader can see the poem as it was intended. Only through an understanding of that function can a reader fully appreciate the poem.

p’Bitek, Okot. “Song of Ocol.” 1984 Postcolonial Poetry in English. Rajeev S. Patke.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. 127. Print.