An Argument for Solitary Fireside Readings

Your mouth is a wonderland waiting for poetry to climb inside it.

That's kind of a gross metaphor, but I'm thinking the point of this article is now more or less clear: I'm an advocate for reading poetry out loud -- even when no one is around to hear you. Especially when you find yourself in an over-stuffed armchair near a roaring fire. Add a steaming cup of tea into the scenario, and a few haphazard piles of books and it's inescapable: you are going to have to read poetry out loud.

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But you don't have to wait for this scenario to read poetry out loud. I just use that scenario because it's what I envision casual poetry recitals were like amongst family and friends during the era of the so-called "Fireside Poets". It's very picturesque, no? Here's the thing: should you ever find yourself in the perfect scenario and you're out of practice reading aloud, well, you're in a bit of a sticky situation. It's better to practice in the comfort of your own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, backyard, etc. This ensures that you are indeed ready to "bust a rhyme" when the time arises.

Still need some convincing? Good, because I've got time and clearly I'm just getting warmed up.

1. Feel the music

I'm going to quote the timeless movie "Cool Runnings" to make this point: feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up -- it's poetry time! And you can't argue with "Cool Runnings", you just can't. My point here is that poetry originated as a performance art. People would gather to listen to the recital of epic poems. Probably around a fire, after dinner when everyone was feeling fine. And even though that was a long time ago, poetry remembers its origins. 98% of the poetry you read on the page is meant to be heard as well. By reading out loud, you can feel the rhythm and the rhyme. And no matter how hard you try to conjure the sounds in your head, physically forming the sounds is an entirely different journey through the poem. 

2. Improve your own poetry

The more you read out loud, the more you get an ear for music. You probably already have one if you're a poet, but in my experience reading out loud enhances this natural talent. Not only that, but reading your own poetry out loud as you write is an excellent way to catch any bumpy spots, or phrases that don't roll off the tongue. Whenever I'm giving feedback on poetry and notice sections or lines that don't flow well, I always suggest that the poet read it back to themselves out loud. And I practice what I preach, too. At the suggestion of a professor, I started reading my own work aloud once I had a workable draft, and it's helped me polish many poems. 

3. Discover something new

Sometimes you learn new things about your favorite poetry when you read it aloud. You might find that the sounds trigger something in your brain that opens new doors. Or the realization that there's internal rhyme somewhere subtle you didn't quite expect it. Whatever you find, reading aloud is a whole new way of seeing a poem. 

4. Find your zen

You know what's relaxing? Reading poetry. Naturally, there's a certain zen space you might be able to find when you're reading longer poems aloud. It's a little soothing to fall into the rhythm of a poem and ride the wave of sounds to the end. Try it next time you're stressed and need a moment to step away from it all. 

Happy reading! and happy writing! 

Read more of Alexandria's work on Floodmark.