On Poetry: Concerning its Medium

Poetry, being an art of language, may be both read and recited. There are pros and cons to each of these, and the merits of the two shall be weighed against each other in this post. Poetry, by its reflective nature, is often private. On the other hand, it shares original insights into the world that yearn to be shared. Books of poetry, and single pieces lend themselves to silent reading. Though such events as Poetry Out Loud competitions and Poetry Slams require poetry to be recited for their very existence. This argument may be applied for music that contains lyrics as well. It is evident therefore, that both mediums are necessary for various reasons, but the question remains as to which one is better, and better for what purpose.

Looking on these mediums solely from the primary participant's point of view, that being the point of view of the one doing the reading or reciting, the pros of cons of each medium become somewhat better defined. When reading, the reader may stop at will. This in turn allows the reader to reflect on what they have just read, or look up a term or reference they are unsure of. Additionally, readers have the text directly in front of them. They do not have to rely on memory to find the next line of the poem, or inflect its meaning correctly. On the other hand, the memorization factor of recitation is a good things for diligent reciters. It allows them to gain a deep and intimate knowledge of the poem, and often requires the same research that is optional for readers for reciters who are unacquainted with particular terms of allusions to understand their poem fully. Recitation is also often done for an audience. This can promote discussion of the piece and debate on meaning of particular lines and stanzas depending on a reciters inflection or timing.

In conclusion, it may be easily stated that reading poetry is the best medium for building a personal translation of a poem. Recitation is better suited for exposing others to a poem, and communicating one's translation of a poem through the recitation. Both are well suited for encouraging their participant's, though the additional pressure of performance for an audience may make recitation a better medium in this respect. However, when it comes to which medium best communicates the poet's message, I am unsure that can be determined. Certainly for building a personal opinion it is clear that reading is the better medium. However, no one opinion may be correct, and therefore the discussion which may be sparked by recitations are critically important as well.

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