Before class, the readings did not make sense to me at all. I could barely focus on what I was reading. Maybe it was because I just have a hard time understanding poems in general. I like writing poems, but when it comes time to decipher meanings in other poems, I am always lost.
When we first entered class, I was scared that I would be the only one who didn’t understand the readings. Later though, I was relieved to discover that many others felt the same way that I did. The poems did not make sense to me because they were so abstract and contained too many details at some points. They were really hard to get into.
When we started reading out loud, I got a better feel of the poetry. Maybe because poems should be read out loud and with a certain emotion, not in monotone. Then, when we had to explain each line of poetry in our own words, I learned to respect the poetry that was originally written because I could understand it better. I also realized how different and, at the same time, alike all our minds are when we read theses poems. Many people had the same responses while others talked about things I would have never imagined. In conclusion, I had a new thinking of the poems when I left class that day.
Arooj, Do you think you’ll try reading the poems out loud to yourself? I wonder if that might help?