Poetry Forum

I always tell my students at the beginning of the poetry genre section in my freshmen comp. course that I, too, do not "get" all poetry and that it is OK to not be able to "get" it all!

My question to all of you is what is a poem that you simply don't "get"? 

I've always wanted to see an in-depth analysis of e.e. cummings "anyone lived in a pretty how town."  I get the basic purpose, the commentary on individuality and conformity, but I'd love to see a careful breakdown of how he uses repetition and imagery to reinforce his theme.

In reply to #2:

Interesting, sullymonster!  e.e. cummings frustrates me already because of his lack of capital letters LOL (I'm an English professor).

I, for the life of me, cannot understand what in the world "The Red Wheelbarrow" is about *sigh*.  I want to make it about something deep and meaningful, but perhaps it is only about a wheelbarrow that is slickened with rain and that has a chicken near it LOL!

Although I definitely enjoy explicating poetry--even difficult, challenging poetry--"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" makes my head hurt. On several occasions I've wanted to use it to show multiple points of view, but I don't feel secure enough in my interpretation to do so. Maybe it's that number 13? : )

As much as I love the flow and the sound of the poem "The Emperor of Ice-Cream" by Wallace Stevens, I'm still confused by the deeper meaning of the poem.  What was Stevens trying to say by the poem.  Many interpretations exist, but none of them satisfy me completely.