UNDERSTANDING POETRY

IVAN BARROGA
DANCING ON MY OWN
playing..
What is POETRY?
POETRY is a form of art in which
language is used for its
aesthetic and evocative
qualities in addition to, or in
lieu of its ostensible meaning.
The nature of poetry has been
described in a number of ways.
Among them are the following:
1. Poetry is highly social as it
is act of communication, its
purpose is to give delight, to
educate, and to elevate.
2. Poetry should reveal us to
ourselves It should express and
explain our motives, show our
temper, reveal our secrets, name
our aspirations, stand for our
hopes as it shows our despair.
3. A person searches his own
identity through poetry. Each
person is a milepost along the
way.
4. Poetry evaluate science,
science does not evaluate
poetry.
 OTAN GABI
A Philippine Folk Song

Otan gabi, otan nangca

tinono-an,
Panacutan sa sibuyaslami-
an!
Inday tagolaylay
Otan calamunggay
Sactan sa alogbati
Calan-on sa datog pobre.
Translation

Vegetable taro, vegetable jackfruit,

cook these in coconut milk,
Flavor with onion bulbsavory!
Inday tagolaylay [a phrase of endearment]
Vegetable calamunggay [an edible leafy shrub]
Mix with alogbati[an edible vine]
Its good fare for rich and poor.
How is POETRY written?
Sloanes experience goes:

Two years ago, I woke up in the

middle of the night with a swirl
of words going about in my head.
This condition seems to be a
gift of the gods and in this
instance I had done nothing
consciously to bring it on.
The condition is dramatic. The
words and rhythms, seemingly
endless numbers of them, are
present in an expansive flow of
ideation. You feel that you must
get a pencil quickly or they
will be lost.
.going back to the question
Mentioning two theories about
the complex and ancient art of
poetry.
1. One is that poetry comes from
an excess of clan vitalan
overflowing of powerful feelings
from a healthy psyche. A poet is
a normal man with a
superabundant creative powers.
2. Poetry comes from a sick soul
and is to heal or make up for
psychic deficiencies.
your eyes are quite bright
and it talks when it meet mine

there is a strange but sweet feeling

that I get when your voice resonates
through waves that carry
feelings of affection

it makes me swoon and giggle inside

when we kiss, your lips are as gentle

as a mothers touch
lips that took all bitterness inside me
and replaced it with hope

a glorious ephemeral moment

our playful hands met and they

intertwine in times when they want to
feel safe, feel warm.

they are each others fortresslike us

iloveyoubaby
The Words of Poetry
1. A word is an expression of
feelings.
2. A word involves the whole
body.
3. A word has a history.
4. A word is a picture.
"All I Ask"

I will leave my heart at the door

I won't say a word
They've all been said before, you know
So why don't we just play pretend
Like we're not scared of what is coming next
Or scared of having nothing left

Look, don't get me wrong

I know there is no tomorrow
All I ask is
If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I never love again?
Let this be our lesson in love
Let this be the way we remember us
I don't wanna be cruel or vicious
And I ain't asking for forgiveness
All I ask is
If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I never love again?
I don't need your honesty
It's already in your eyes
And I'm sure my eyes, they speak for me
No one knows me like you do
And since you're the only one that matters
Tell me who do I run to?

Look, don't get me wrong

I know there is no tomorrow
All I ask is

If this is my last night with you

Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I never love again?
How to analyze a poem?
I. Title
What does the title tell?
How does the title help in
our understanding of the
poem?
II. Word Meaning
List any unfamiliar words.
Look up their denotative
meanings in the dictionary.
Consider connotations of
naming words, describing
words and action words.
III. Imagery
List as many as you can.
Tell what particular sense
(sight, sound, feel, taste and
smell) the images appeal to.
What does each image suggest?
Which are pleasant?
Unpleasant? Why?
IV. Symbols
List any words which you
think may be symbols.
Tell what symbols may stand
for.
V. Figures of Speech
Point out the figures of
speech.
Explain the figures that
convey ideas most clearly
and forcefully.
List any figure of speech in
the poem that you have heard
in every day speech.
VI. Sound
Are there any imitative words
whose sound echo of sense, such
as hiss, clap, bang?
Are there any examples of
alliteration?
Are there any harsh words or
line? Explain why they are used.
VII. Rhyme
Is the end-of-line rhyme used?
Label the rhyme pattern.
Is the rhyme pattern regular?
VII. Rhythm
Is the rhythm regular in each line?
Point out the instances of movement
being: slow, dignified, solemn;
light, swift, rippling, varied,
irregular, uneven.
Explain why the rhythm changes if it
does.
How does the rhythm aid the mood of
the poem?
IX. Theme
What purpose does the poem serve?
Is the purpose stated or suggested?
If stated, where?
How would you connect the imagery and
tone with the theme?
 ACTIVITY

Read the given poem and in

sheet of yellow paper, draw
the visual image/s that you
could think of.
ALL BECAUSE YOU KISSED ME GOOD NIGHT
Sandy Roistan

I climbed the door and opened the stairs,

Said my pajamas and put on my prayers,
Then turned off the bed and crawled into the light-
All because you kissed me good night.

Next morning I woke up and scrambled my shoes,

Polished my eggs and toasted the news.
I couldnt tell my left from right-
All because you kissed me good night.

That evening, at last, I felt normal again,

So I picked up my mother and called the phone,
I spoke to the puppy and threw Dad a bone.
Even at midnight the sun was still bright-
All because you kissed me good night!
Relate your personal experiences
to the poem by sharing it to the
class.