For the month of March, I with others have been challenged to read a published poem and write a short commentary every day.   Those involved in this group challenge, not only post a different poem with commentary every day but often comment on another's offering.  And of course, the "Like" button is overused.  That can't happen here because we don't have a "Like" button.  For me, hitting the "Like" button acknowledges I read the other poems posted. (with 20 odd participants I don't have time to comment on everyone's post, but I do attempt to read them all.) I actually learned a great deal from taking up this challenge last year.  Not only was I exposed to poetry I've never read before but some of the commentaries were quite enlightening and made the poetry more meaningful.  

the reader

the mindful care
given

to a simple
poem

will bring new
measure

to the poetry
within
           ~~jvg

Reading good poetry is one of the best things we as poets can do to improve our own writing other than to write, write, write.  I believe one thing leads to the other. “It usually helps me write by reading - somehow the reading gear in your head turns the writing on” ~~Steven Wright

Here is a segment of a poem shared by eclipse the other day. From Song of Myself lines 22 thru 28 by Walt Whitman. Most poetry should be read aloud to feel full sound and energy, this is especially true of Whitman.

Have you reckon’d a thousand acres much? have you reckon’d the earth much?
Have you practis’d so long to learn to read?
Have you felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems?

Stop this day and night with me, and you shall possess the origin of all poems;
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun—(there are millions of suns left;)
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books;
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me:
You shall listen to all sides, and filter them from yourself.

There is a forum for sharing poetry you have read right here within our community, A Poem I Read Today. It is the only forum that is blocked from the public's view because of concern for copyright laws. Most of our members have at one time or another posted a poem they had read there. Often, they leave it at that. Although we are already a week into March, I hope you will join me this month and share the poetry you are reading daily. If you are not reading daily, I challenge you to give it a try. And if you post a poem or two, maybe you could even add a few of your own thoughts on the poems you share. Happy reading.

~~Tinker