Read Aloud the Text Content

This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.

Text Content or SSML code:

“Poetry is the journal of the sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air. Poetry is a search for syllables to shoot at the barriers of the unknown and unknowable. Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away.” These words by Carl Sandburg are the chief motive in which I believe that poetry is a beneficial tool in allowing one to either express themselves in a way that paints vivid imagery to the reader; and build some form of personal connection with them; through the topic or main message conveyed in the poem. Good morning ma’am and fellow group members, my name is Qhayiya Kakaza, and today I will be giving a presentation substantiating and agreeing with the quote mentioned previously. I will also be making references to poems throughout, with reasons why I chose them and how they resonate with me. Poets have penned about their feelings and thoughts throughout history to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Poetry is one of the oldest forms of emotional expression, and there are many different historical periods to examine. The origins of English poetry can be found in ancient history when the themes of most poems were either love or religion. The beginnings date back to the Prehistoric period in history. Some of the earliest preserved examples of poetry can be traced in cave paintings. These paintings were often produced by early people as a means of connecting with their environment or as an illustration of spiritual stories. These days, poetry may be found in several academic journals and publications as well as on the internet. Poetry is a dynamic storytelling tool that reaches readers all across the world with stories of love, tragedy, and profound life experiences. The poem “Inner Peace” by Joshua Fraser is a poem in which he paints a lucid and authentic picture of his surrounding environment, in a time when the speaker is facing overwhelming hardships and tries to find a sense of tranquillity and serenity; in the natural environment around him, as it transitions from day time to night time. This poem came to him at a time when he; and I quote; “was sitting at the beach, fishing. After having a few mental breakdowns during the week before, it was the first time I felt some peace.” The reason I resonate with this poem is due to the fact that while the sound of focus is only a whisper, life is full of loud cries of distractions and contradictions. Fortunately, for those who would listen, nature sings this quiet song of concentration. This is perfectly portrayed in the poem. It also pushes for the fact that may we all have the courage to listen to the still, little voice of focus and push aside the loud cries of contradictions. The poem “Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep” by Clare Harner; previously titled “Immortality; is a poem whereby she speaks of death in a welcoming tone. She offers words of comfort for those who would mourn for her at her passing, and she seems to welcome death not as the ending of a life, but as the beginning of another. This poem shares similarities with Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 71”, in terms of the tone and content of the poem. The speaker is very welcoming of this concept and sounds as if they want to be completely forgotten, and wants whoever is attending her funeral to move on; so they can be more at peace with themselves and be happier. The reason I resonate with this poem is due to the fact that it touches on a topic that most people shy away from, but ultimately loss is something that is inevitable. I share similar feelings to the poet on the concept of death, as I personally wouldn’t want my loved ones being saddened by the fact that I’m no longer there, as I do consider others; and their feelings; before myself. It has made me realize that people don’t necessarily mourn the death of a loved one, but the fact that we may never be able to interact with them physically; and we end up missing that aspect of them. To sum up, writing poetry encourages reflection, imagination, and curiosity, whether it is through humorous verses or the narration of real-world events. There is no restriction on what a poem can be "about." Depending on the poet, the writing process varies and the value it holds can be completely different. Poetry allows for more interpretation. Reading poetry has the power to alter a person's perspective on the world and their own perception of themselves. Poetry is somewhat different from other forms of literary expression. A simple line can engage the reader's senses, emotions, and imagination. Many people claim that poetry is a language unto itself, and in some ways, this is true.