When writing poetry, there are many
things you can do to engage your readers’ emotions. Vivid imagery, poetic
devices (such as metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, etc.), rhythm,
meter, and beautiful word choices can all pull some serious emotional strings.
And by tapping into your readers' senses, you can often evoke memories and
experiences that have meaning for them.
Consider this poem by the English poet
John Masefield, one of my all-time favorites:
SEA FEVER by John Masefield (1878-1967)
I must go down to the seas again, to the
lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
Masefield’s beautiful poem has the
ability to evoke strong emotion, both in me and in countless people through the
years. When I read it, I am transported to a shell-scattered beach and the sky
is a pearly, pinkish gray. The waves crash and roll, and then cool water washes
over my feet as they sink into the sand. I feel the spray of the water, smell
the beachy breeze, and taste the salt in the air. And it makes me happy and sad
at the same time.
As I pondered this post, I dug deep to
determine exactly why this poem
creates such vivid images for me. Then I recalled that in the eighth grade I
memorized and recited Sea Fever to my class for a (terrifying) language arts
assignment. And then I looked even further back, and had a “light bulb” moment—until
I was 3 years old, I lived with my parents a few blocks away from the beach in
Jacksonville, Florida. My earliest memories are of walking barefoot along the
shore, each of my hands in one of theirs. And I remember them swinging me UP in
the air between them, jumping the waves. This was before my two younger sisters
were born, before responsibility, before care. Before growing up.
John Masefield, though long gone, still
makes an emotional connection with me each time I read his poem. And if we
actively engage our readers’ deepest selves with our own writing, we can make
strong emotional connections, as well.
And that is the whole point of poetry,
isn’t it?
EVOCATIVE is the central rod of poetry. Thank you for Sea Fever^...~~~~~ (Waves)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mirka! I am so glad you like it!
DeleteDear Becky,
ReplyDeleteI love Masefield's words: "like a whetted knife."
The wind at the beach with the added sand blowing in it definitely has the cutting edge of a knife.
Thanks for sharing this poem and your memories attached to it.
Celebrate you and your ability to create beautiful tapestry with words.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Thank you, Joan! I love Masefield's use of language!
DeleteYour post brought me a spray of the sea on a chilly February day and plenty to think about while reading and writing poetry. Thank you, Becky!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! It is definitely a powerful poem!
DeleteBecky, As I read your post this morning, I'm listening to the "wild call" of the sea, of writing, and of life. Your thoughts alongside Masefield's poem transported me beside a breezy ocean where I could feel the sand squish between my toes. Thanks for the inspiration, as always!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurie! It really does make you feel as if you are at the seashore!
Delete