Note: In this in-class discussion exercise, my ENG 2030 students were able to interrogate the questions “what is poetry?” and “what is a poem?” by looking at different texts, some poetic and some religious and some musical, in order to answer the question. The links to the texts are below the directions.
- A traditional Irish blessing.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
- These passages of religious texts (Qu’ran and Bible).
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Have you considered him who turned away?
And gave a little, and held back?
Does he possess knowledge of the unseen, and can therefore foresee?
Or was he not informed of what is in the Scrolls of Moses?
And of Abraham, who fulfilled?
That no soul bears the burdens of another soul.
And that the human being attains only what he strives for.
And that his efforts will be witnessed.
Then he will be rewarded for it the fullest reward.
And that to your Lord is the finality.
And that it is He who causes laughter and weeping.
And that it is He who gives death and life.
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
- Listen to Bob Dylan’s “Idiot Wind” (Test Pressing without Organ Overdub), and read the lyrics.
- Benjamin Bagby performing excerpts from Beowulf with harp accompaniment:
- Watch Danez Smith perform “Dinosaurs in the Hood,” and then read the poem.
- Listen and read Kendrick Lamar’s “The Art of Peer Pressure.”
- Read excerpts from the surviving fragments of Sappho’s poetry, translated by Anne Carson.
Emilia Phillips 