How To Approach a Poem by Jim Murdoch at Spillwords.com
Nicolas Messifet

How To Approach a Poem

How To Approach a Poem

written by: Jim Murdoch

 

People expect to “get” poetry and that’s the problem.
They think the purpose of poetry is to be understood.
Oh, it’s great when that happens, don’t get me wrong,

but were you to catalogue all the many things in life
you don’t understand (do not forget about yourself)
you’ll soon realise how overrated understanding is.

Art sussed that out many moons ago. Clever old art.
It doesn’t ask to be grasped, merely appreciated.
Give it a go the next time you skim a poem.

This mindset works well with people too.
Stray dogs, bulls and horses maybe not so much.

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