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Hello everyone! Welcome to the Cove's very own poet's society. Inspired by the Dead Poet's Society, the purpose of this thread will be to share, analyze, and learn about some of the best poetry that has been written throughout history and connect with others in our community.
What really draws me to poetry is that I view poems as sort of puzzles that need to be 'solved' and I can spend hours thinking over and analyzing a single poem. From the meaning, technique, historical context, all the way down to the author's personal reason for writing it - I want to know it all! For that reason, I decided to create The Cove's Dead Poet's Society - a place where other poetry lovers with borderline obsessive personalities can delve into poetry in detail and maybe even learn a thing or two while we're at it.
How it will work: Each week, a new poem will be posted along with some historical context, information about the author, relevant themes, and a few discussion questions. Then it will be up to you to start the discussion. Feel free to start your own groups in the chat feature and create responses as a team. Bonus points if you can come up with your own poems inspired by each week's poem/theme!
Also, feel free to start your own discussion questions down in the comments. The more dialogue we have going the better!
First poem will be posted soon... stay tuned!
- Sophie ❤️
"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."- The Dead Poet's Society
Sorry it has taken me so long to get to this. I have 101 things going on and keeping on top of everything is a task! Also, just want to take a moment to appreciate how beautiful the meetings are designed and laid out! We're lucky that you take the time.
I love this play. It's so pure and beautiful and just absolutely soaked in love! Of course that's why Shakespeare is known the world over because he is just a beast! I love how perfectly he balances the wholesome nature of Juliet's virginal nature here, yet there's that playful sprinkle and cheekiness from Romeo that she so perfectly reflects back to him. It's just a perfect example of the early stages of flirtation. And, boy do I smile thinking of the fact that not much has changed in the realm of courtship since the 1500s, except perhaps the language we use. How exciting is that to think about!? Shakespeare would have flirted in the exact same way we all do today!
Thanks again for everything you are doing here! I'm so pleased to be part of this!
Dead Poet's Society Meeting 2 - April 29, 2021
This poem reminded me about this thought experiment I heard once about a woman named Mary who is fully colorblind but devotes her life to studying the science of color perception until she knows everything there is to know about how the human brain perceives color. Then one day, she miraculously gets cured and can see colors, and for the first time, looks at an apple to see that it is red - now the question is: Did Mary learn something new?
I think what this story about Mary as well as this poem are trying to say is - is all knowledge based on objective data, or is there something to be learned about the world through our subjective perception of it. And according to Whitman, the answer is clearly the latter, and I'm inclined to agree.
I also think this poem is about how sometimes we get so lost in pragmatism - the charts, numbers, etc. that we forget to see the beauty in the world, as that is what actually makes everything else have meaning. Whitman is encouraging us to stop and smell the roses, or in his case, stop and look up at the stars.
I like to think it’s about regimentalism (that’s a word now). Everything in life back then was learnt in books. Was taught to you from a superior who learnt it from their superior. Why was it centred around astrology? Well, all poets look to the stars and galaxies right? Maybe it was Walt’s natural desire to find answers amongst the stars and used that very natural beauty to juxtapose with the horrid rigid charts, which as I say, represented a way of life and society back then.
Finally, he’d had enough of the stiff charts, diagrams and texts and decided to learn from experiencing the real world.
@Anneli Strand I loved your take on this poem Anneli! So well thought out and beautifully put. "The moon walks with me in full even if I can't see it" - you must write a poem about that! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us and hope to see you back here soon ❤️
To learn how everything works and is built is all well and good. But a star isn't less beautiful cause I don't know it's name or number. The moon walks with me in full even if I can't see it. But a red full moon touches my soul everytime my eyes take a glanze at it. Science doesn't make spirituality less important or vice versa. They are the opposite sides of the coin. Together yet apart. As a poet it just happens to be easier to see the spiritual side of the coin. But who knows I might be fliping it someday. I think we all at some point in time has been in a place where we wanted to sneak out the side door. I am just so polite that I escape inside my heart instead. Like the light is on but no one is in the office so to speak.
Ohhh my you got my head spinning with this one. I will be back when it stops :))
Dead Poet's Society Meeting 1 - April 11, 2021
Here is a link that contains our first discussion poem!
Wow!! This is like a dream come true!!❤️❤️I can't keep calm, so excited!!😁😁
Love this ❤
To Be Read At The Opening of D.P.S. Meetings:
I am so in love with this idea. I officially sign myself up to the Cove's Dead poets Society