Matt:
Hi, my name is Matt. Welcome to Sydney Story Factory. I'm still the Deputy Storyteller here. Thanks for watching, even though I am just the Deputy. I promise it's not because I don't know as much or don't smell as good as the Chief Storyteller. It's just that he won't quit and give me his job. Anyway, let's move on to more pleasant things like poetry. Let's be honest. Apart from the times in our lives, when we're swept up in the heady thrust and pull of intense emotion, we don't really pay much attention to poetry. Why? Are we scared of our emotions? Maybe. Is poetry too tricky? Could be. I interviewed some people on the street to find out why we don't read more poetry and the results might surprise you.
Kai:
I don't know any of the rules, why're words doing that? What am I supposed to do with it? Cry, clap, feed it to the bird? I can't pick up books. You already asked me that. I don't know when I should be reading it. I don't think poems are meant for me. I think they're for very rich people who live in museums and own a peacock. Also, have you seen my four twin brothers?
Matt:
These are reasonable concerns. Let's address them. One. Poetry is for anytime. That's a cool thing about it. Two, poetry is for everybody. That is another cool thing. Three, if you're a ghost, you could get a person to read a poem to you. Maybe that is nice. And four, all you have to do with poetry is read it. Maybe out loud and think about how it makes you feel. And then read it again if you like. These are simple things. But I hear you say what about the rules? And yes, it is true. Poetry sometimes does have rules. What else has rules? Science, sport, music, plenty of things have rules. What we as humans tend to seem to like the most is when something is weird and unique and crazy inside a set of rules. So a reverse triple dunk is rad, but especially when the hoop is exactly 10 feet high. An explosion is always awesome in a laboratory, but kind of really when it's an explosion that you're after. If we can be surprised and delighted by things, when they're governed by important rules, such as in science and sport, then why can't we do the same when we're dealing with words?
Matt:
So you say to me, but can't a story do all that? Well, kind of.
Matt:
But there's a difference. Take a look at this. So is the story always K and louder and messier than a poem? Mm, no, not always, but kind of. Look, we're talking about art and that is the nice thing here. Yes, there are rules, but as long as you have a good reason, you can always break them.
Kai:
Can I break this? What's your reason? I believe it to contain the secret to the jewels of the empire of the moon.
Matt:
Um, all right. But I want some of those jewels.
Matt:
Basically a poem is a way for a poet to share an idea or a thought or a mood or an experience. And they've written it in the best way for them to express that. There's two parts to doing things. The thing that you're doing and the way that you do it. So next time you read or write a poem, think about what it's about, the thing, and the way that it's written, the doing. There's a million things to write about and a million ways to do it. And that's what makes poetry exciting. You can eat your snacks like this… or you can eat your snacks like this. And that's poetry.