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Oftentimes, art is depicted only through pictures and visuals- why is it that poetry is so glossed over as an art form?
Poetry has been the central focus for year 10 students this term. We get to read a vast range of different poems, from traditional sonnets to modern poetry, but they all share two common themes: belonging and nature. So then, how is it possible that poems written in the late 17th century like To My Sister can share similarities with poems like Jamaican British, written only in 2018? This is exactly what our GCSE curriculum explores.
As these themes are provided to us, we have to make deep connections to belonging and nature within the poems and truly unpack the meaning behind them. At a glance, a poem like 'Sunday Dip' can seem like a surface-level poem with not much deeper meaning- it's just a playful poem about "merry boys who seek the water for their Sunday joys." But when truly zooming into each stanza, you can see the influence of both nature and belonging on the speaker's childhood. This is particularly artful to me as the passion of John Clare can really be found through how he is able to describe a vivid scene with such little words- it really shows how impactful poetry can be.
Another poem that really stood out to me was ‘I remember, I remember’ by Thomas Hood. The refrain ‘I remember, I remember’ emphasises his nostalgia to his childhood, which he describes with evident joy. His use of imagery creates a beautiful picture of the natural surroundings the speaker grew up with, making this poem distinctive in the vast array we’re currently learning about.
To link back to the first statement- whilst poetry might not be the first thing that comes to mind in conversations about art, its versatility in interpretation reflects that of traditional art, which is why it’s so valuable to still be taught to young people like students at WA!
Isabella Grala - Year 10 English Prefect
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