Enjoying poetry
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Poetry, my dear friends, is a sacred incantation of a smile.

Poetry is a sigh that dries the tears.

Poetry is a spirit who dwells in the soul, whose

nourishment is the heart, whose wine is affection.

- Kahlil Gibran,
The Treasured Writings

I can hear you asking - Who is this man and why is he saying these things about poetry? Poetry? Well, yes! In the first place, Gibran is a Lebanese philosopher and poet. He is best known for his famous work, 'The Prophet'. Second, if you reflect a bit on some of the poems that you know, if not all of them, you will have to agree with him.

You have been doing poetry now for many years and you have been enjoying it, too.

Jack Sprat could eat no fat

His wife could eat no lean

And so between them both, you

see

They licked the platter clean

Old King Cole

Was a merry old soul

And a merry old soul was he.

He called for his pipe

And he called for his drum

And he called for his fiddlers three.

Now I lay me down to sleep

I ask the Lord my soul to keep

And if I should die before I wake

I ask the Lord my soul to take.

You know Bob Marley's Time Will Tell and Three Little Birds and Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers to Cross? Do you remember H.D. Carberry's 'Nature' and Miss Lou's 'Tram Car'? Then, of course, many of you have enjoyed singing Away In A Manger and Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Have you ever stopped to consider the link between the songs you like, whether secular or religious, and poetry? Please do so, for you will quickly realise that it is poetic lyrics which become songs when set to music.

Expressing deep feelings

Poetry is a beautiful item made up of words that create sound, mood and feeling. It is often what comes out of the heart and mind and soul, and it belongs to all of us. It can be sad, happy or romantic; about birth, death, war, peace or about the past, the present, the future. It can make you laugh or cry and it can make you sing! Many songs, as I said earlier, are poems set to music. Many poems are used to bring comfort, to warm the heart, to share deep feelings.

Now, don't try to convince me or yourselves that you do not like poetry. How can you not, when you deejay and rap so easily and freely? Jamaicans, in fact, Caribbean people, find appropriate words to describe every occasion, for we are a creative people whose lyrics (poetic words) have set the world on fire - calypso, mento, rock steady, gospel, soca, reggae, dancehall - all words/poems at the root. And let's not forget those poems that you, yes, you, have written. Young men, do I see you nodding as you recall about whom you wrote the last one?

The Caribbean Examinations Council wants students to appreciate this thing called poetry, which is so natural to us. It is hoped that in preparing for the exam, you will develop your ability to understand what others write and learn to value the poets and their work.

Poetry is often thought to be difficult but have you ever wondered why it is seen as such? Let us consider it now.

1. The information is packed tightly into a few words with each word and sound, each image being significant. Do remember that you can expand a 10-line poem into hundreds of prose lines.

2. Poems vary in length, from a few words, to thousands.

3. A poem can be on any subject.

4. A poem can be set anywhere, in any country and in any century.

5. Anybody can write poetry. Children, men, women, people of every faith, those without any, and of every race and economic and political status write poems. Individual ideas, beliefs, attitudes and culture affect what is written and how it is written.

So you see, we must approach the study of poetry with an open mind. I really want you to realise that although it may take time for you to grasp what the poem is saying, it will be well worth your while. Poets have no intention of shutting us out of their work. I believe they want us to learn from their literary efforts about our fellow human beings, ourselves and the world in which we live, to broaden our horizons and to have some fun in doing so too.

There is more for us to contemplate but that will be for another lesson. Until then, please read 'Ana' by Mark McWatt and remember to listen to the call for compassion and understanding from those you meet today. God bless!

Clement Radcliffe, one of the lecturers in Youthlink's CSEC series, makes a point to these Green Island High School students recently, after their mathematics session. - Photo by Sheena Gayle

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.