Poems, Remember Those?
Words by Abby Perez
Illustration by Katie Herchenroeder
We all, at some point I hope, haveread some form of literature. Whether it be for school or if we’re one of thebillion people in the world who actually get pleasure from reading on our own.We’re taught since elementary school, read read read! The first thing thatcomes to mind is the usual: books, comics, Twitter.But what about poems?
They’re considered a “lost art form”if we aren’t reading them to study for a quiz in our English Lit class. Poemscome in various styles and they can be very influential (not to mention they’renot as long as the books you read for class). And when I say poems, I meanACTUAL poems. Not the ones that you used to love on Tumblr in middle schoolwith that one flower that has the petals falling.
Fellow CCNY student Sarah Logan’sfavorite poem is Phenomenal Woman byMaya Angelou. The descriptive language and gorgeous imagery radiate poise andelegance, reminding Sarah of her mother. This poem gives her the confidence totruly be herself in the bland and one-sided world we live in.
Anyhara Garcia’s favorite poem is Fire and Ice by Robert Frost - afterhearing it in the movie Twilight backin fourth grade when we would all argue with our friends over Jacob and Edward(we all know Jacob was better anyway). Anyhara loves the simplicity of thepoem, evoking such beauty and delicacy in such a few short lines.
Another student, Yanivel Sosa,absolutely loves The Lamb by WilliamBlake. She raves about the purity and sanctity in describing the Lamb of God.
My absolute favorite poem is Dreams by Langston Hughes. We’ve all had dreams from when we were in third grade of becoming an astronaut or a pop star. Then we grow up a little bit, and it turns into wanting to become a writer, or detective. Then we grow some more, and we forget all about those dreams we were ready to conquer as a kid because it “won’t pay the bills.” I believe our dreams are what make life worth living.
Where’s the beauty in working a job we are not jumping out of bed in the morning to do? We need to remember what will make the child in us live on and chase after those dreams. I heard that idea once or twice before, but reading that poem for the first time in college was the bow that wrapped and tied the whole idea for me.
Poems are written in countless styles,and each one is substantially different in their own way. That is why I urgeyou guys to read a poem.
ANY poem.
Whether it be by a famous poet or onecompletely foreign to you. Read one! You never know the impact it may have onyou, and your life.
