April class introduction prep

Preparation for April's poetry class.

Open with The Jewel by James Wright

Story, via Molly Peacock, of the Talisman poem.

Explaining the unexplainable, poetry as magic, ritual deriving from
the first religious ceremomies, grounded in spirituality,
knowing the unknown. (prayers)

What is poetry?

Criticism - the story of Dr. Scanlon. Didn't know much about what I wanted to do,
knew what I didn't want to do (the war).
You can say anything in this class about any poem, the caveat being that it be
based on something in the poem, something you can point to and say,
"This is why I mean that."
The only other rule is to allow others their opinions. We can disagree,
just not belittle.

Criticism - like pulling off the wings of butterfly to find beauty.

Therefore, what we'll be doing today will be poetry appreciation
not poetry analysis.

Few basics based on Molly Peacock:
1) The line 2) The sentence 3) The image

Never assume "I" is the poet.