~Tossing A Ball......Tossing A Poem~

       In Catch, by Robert Francis, there is two meanings to the activity of catching. "Catching What?", you may ask. Well that is what I will be writing about. In this poem, the mental picture is planted of two boys playing catch. The first line of the poem tells us that this is no ordinary game of catch. It is about two boys or maybe poets who are throwing a poem back and forth. I imagine that they are the writing this poem together and trying to figure out what words work best and what phrases should go where. In Catch, there is the imagery of playing catch with a ball and playing catch with a poem. Lets take a closer look at the two.
       First let's look at the playing catch with a ball scenario. All the signs are there for us to assume that these two boys are playing with a ball. The poem says in reference to the toss, "Overhand, underhand, backhand, sleight of hand, every hand ( Francis, Catch, 636)." Who wouldn't say that they are tossing a ball here. The poem goes on to explain how they catch the "ball" and how they have to try hard to get it. Or could it be talking about an actual poem and using this outstanding imagery to show us how they write the poem?
       The boys, as the poem states, are tossing a poem. The very first line says, "Two boys uncoached are tossing a poem (Francis, Catch, 636)." The poem goes on with so many exquisite words to show how these two poets are trying to write this poem. They are tossing the poem back and forth between each other to figure out their next move in writing. The poem states that they tease with attitudes. In poetry you have to get the right tone and mood for the poem. They are toying with different attitudes the poem might have. This poem to me reflects the writing of poetry process.
       In conclusion, this wonderful poem called Catch, by Robert Francis tells of two boys who are tossing a poem back and forth. Francis delivers wonderful imagery to create the illusion of playing catch with a ball but in reality relating it to tossing a poem back and forth trying to figure out what works where. This poem is another example of how poetry can sound and be so simple yet be so beautiful and fun at the same time.

Works Cited

 Roberts, Edgar V. "Catch" Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 9th ed. New York:         Pearson. 636. Print

*Eletelephony*

Once there was an Elephant,

Who tried to use the telephant-

No! No! I mean an elephone

Who tried to use the telephone-

(Dear Me! I am not certain quite

That even now Ive got it right.)

Howe'er it was, he got his trunk

Entangled in the telephunk;

The more he tried to get it free,

The louder buzzed the telephee-

( I Fear I'd better drop the song

Of elephop and telephong! )

~Laura Richards

       I wish all poems could be this silly. This is a children's poem and I think its great!!! This is a simple little poem that brought me much joy. Crazy right? I love children and a great way to get them going is a wonderful poem like this. It is funny how something so simple can create such a fun image in your mind. A lot of poems create many images in your brain. That is one thing I love about poetry. No matter what the poem is about, the poet is in control of a great responsibility: creating a mental picture for the reader. 

       Some poems are sad or depressing. Not that these poems are bad or any less of a poem, they just create a different mental picture and the feelings that go along with it. The poet may have been feeling discouraged that day and just needed to write about it. Either way, a poem always creates a mental picture.

       Some poems are about love. These poems are the most often associated with poems if we are talking about subject matter. I mean come on lets face it, girls think it is absolutely fantastic if a guy reads them a poem. Even if he mispronounces every other word and is making a face while he reads it, poems have an affect. Lots of poems are centered around love. It could be the love for your spouse, your boyfriend/girlfriend, or my personal favorite, the love you have for your family. Are you beginning to get a picture of a love poem you have read?

       Lastly, some poems are just about FUN! These are my favorites. They create a sense of wonder and excitement when you read them. The mental picture I get when I read Eletelephony is an elephant all tangled up in phone chords :) See how fun that is! Poems no matter what they are about make you create a mental picture in your mind. They take you to a good place when you read them and that is what makes poetry so great!

< Roses are Red, Violets are Blue >

       When I think of poetry the old faithful "roses are red" rhyme comes to mind. When I was younger I used to write poems a lot. It was just something I liked to do (but I certainly wasn't a pro at it by any means). My mom is an excellent poet by my standards :) and she is the one who got me to write a few. I was about 10 when I started writing. Most of them are about funny things and some I wrote about God. I always get tickled when I read back over them because the only thing that made them an actual poem was that the lines rhymed :). Sometimes they didn't even make sense :) I wrote A LOT of "roses are red" poems. When I think of poetry this always comes to mind. What is so great about the "roses are red" poem is that you can write it about anything: like..... "Roses are red, Violets are blue, you look like a monkey and I do too!" Ha ha, well I told you I was not a pro at this :). So I will leave the poetry writing to my mom.
       I also think of music when I think of poetry. Music is poetry and it always will be poetry.  It has the rhyme schemes that a poem does. Music is words put to sound and melody. Most poems are made into songs or the artist wrote a poem and decided to put some sound to it. I love music so therefore I love poetry. I think of poetry as a way to let your feelings shine through. It is a wonderful way to tell someone how much you care. When I think of poetry I think of Honesty. Poetry is writing down what is truly on your heart.

 

Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.
Muriel Rukeyser