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Tannya Stauffer Poetry Unit Paper Music and poetry are deeply connected.

Although not all poems are put to song, most song lyrics have a format similar to a poem. The lyrics can be built in paragraphs, or stanzas. Sometimes the lines will rhyme, and other times they maintain a rhythm without a single rhyme. A common element between poems and song lyrics is the chorus. The chorus is a small portion of the piece that is repeated two or more times, outlining the significance in the authors words. Despite these similarities, poetry is not as popular a form of art and expression as music. Poetry and music have always been closely related. Perhaps the most basic element shared by the two is rhythm. (Ferguson, Salter, Stallworthy; 2004) In both song, and poem, there is a rhythm that carries the piece, and moves the reader/listener along. Theyre selling postcards of the hanging Theyre painting the passports brown The beauty parlor is filled with sailors The circus is in town Here comes the blind commissioner Theyve got him in a trance One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker The other is in his pants And the riot squad theyre restless They need somewhere to go As Lady and I look out tonight From Desolation Row Cinderella, she seems so easy It takes one to know one, she smiles And puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style And in comes Romeo, hes moaning You Belong to Me I Believe And someone says, Youre in the wrong place my friend You better leave And the only sound thats left After the ambulances go Is Cinderella sweeping up On Desolation Row Now the moon is almost hidden The stars are beginning to hide The fortune-telling lady Has even taken all her things inside All except for Cain and Abel

And the hunchback of Notre Dame Everybody is making love Or else expecting rain And the Good Samaritan, hes dressing Hes getting ready for the show Hes going to the carnival tonight On Desolation Row These are the lyrics to Bob Dylans song Desolation Row. Although there is not music to accompany the reader, the rhythm of the lyrics moves the reader along, as though the song is being listened to and not read. These lyrics were written to be a song, they start out as poetry, and the song develops around the words. The words can easily be read the same as any poem, yet the exposure to the piece came when Dylan put it to music. Although song lyrics are poetry, other aspects have to be considered for the words to become the song. Words in a poem take place against the context of silence, whereas, as musicians like Will Oldham and David Byrne have recently pointed out, lyrics take place in the context of a lot of deliberate musical information: melody, rhythm, instrumentation, the quality of the singer's voice, other qualities of the recording, etc. (Zapruder, 2012). The focus of a songwriter, while producing poetry, is on the final outcome of the song, including the music and performance. This does not imply that poetry does not require work. The form of the poem must still be well developed, and will use repetition, despite being read and not sung. Dylan Thomas wrote: Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Thomas words are not accompanied by music, yet the rhythm still shows emotion, and portrays a deeper meaning that must be studied to be understood. Poetry is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. (Flanagan) Songs are written to gain the same emotional response. The songs that are most popular are the ones that hit home to the audience, and poetry becomes popular in the same way. Despite the similarities in poetry and song, song still rises in popularity. This isnt because of the words themselves, but because of the method of delivery. It is easier to listen to a song than to read a poem, however what many people dont think about, is that music at its core is poetry. The rhythm, tone, and repetition poems are known for are expressed in songs as well, and that is why they are enjoyable and memorable for the audience. Many musical artists present their song lyrics as poetry. This reflects not a commercial move on their part, but a desire for the words they write to be taken seriously. Song lyrics are not used academically to teach poetry and literature, rather they are used to teach culture. (Zapruder, 2012) This mindset in the classroom has created a wider boundary between poetry and song, and causes one to be forgotten in the world of academia, yet to flourish in popular culture. Despite song lyrics being used academically, the far more popular use is outside of the classroom; on the radio, in an elevator, as hold tones, and background in movies and tv commercials. The exposure of the song is far greater than the exposure of the poem. Poetry and song are both used to convey emotion. Song has become more popular to the audience, because less studying is required to feel the emotion of the piece, the music guides the emotion. With poetry, the words must be read and studied to glean the emotion and meaning out of them. Despite all their similarities, poetry in written form is seen less and less often.

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