The Benefits of Reading Poetry

Sometimes people are interested in poetry and sometimes they’re not. The interest or lack of interest can be found in both the reading and writing aspect.  It’s a shame more people aren’t interested in poetry.  Following are some of the benefits to both reading and writing poems.

Reading poetry allows people to relax and learn new things.  It can help with recognizing emotions within one’s self and make the readers notice emotions in others better.  Sometimes reading poetry makes people feel smarter, allowing them to get correct answers on quiz shows like Jeopardy.  Sometimes new words are found, and that also helps to better the mind.  After looking at some poems, one may find that they describe things better when in normal conversation.  If people want to learn many new things, they may go a step further and read about the author.  This can help with learning some historical facts that were previously unknown to the reader.  Another benefit of reading poetry is that it can be therapeutic since it allows one to concentrate which can be a form of meditation.  With so many benefits of reading poetry, I’m not sure why people don’t necessarily like doing it, I find it wonderful.  I highly recommend reading about different subjects so that at least new things can be learned.

For some people, like me, writing poetry is also relaxing.  For others, it can be stressful.  However, writing poetry has many of the same benefits of reading poetry.  When coming up with ideas, new things often present themselves to writers.  New words are thought up and discovered.  Writing about emotions really helps authors know emotions in others.  Reading about authors can help the creator of a poem not only enhance their learning, but allow the aspiring poet to come up with new inspiration.  There are some other added benefits to writing poetry that people may not necessarily get if they are only reading it. Writing is definitely a creative outlet.  Completing a poem can be an ego boost once the person writing it realizes their creativity has helped them make a new creation.  Creating something worthwhile makes a person feel proud of themselves.  If a poem is written in a certain style, skills other than writing may be used.  The most obvious one is coming up with a rhyme scheme.  Other skills may be used as well though, for example; math skills.  Syllables, lines, and stanza may need to be counted.  Especially if something like a sonnet or haiku is being written.  There are obviously many benefits to writing poetry.

For some, writing comes hard, and it is not relaxing to them.  It causes stress, which is counterproductive.  If this is the case, there is no shame in avoiding writing.  Reading poetry is relatively simple though, so there really is no excuse to avoid reading it.  Both writing and reading poems can allow people to find relaxation and learn many new skills like learning new words and new information.  Poetry is clearly beneficial.

The Title of Un-Clenched Emotion or Unclenched Emotion

When I wrote my poetry book I thought of the perfect title: "Unclenched Emotion."  Something funny happened when I went into Word.  It said unclenched was a misspelled word.  Because of this I thought unclenched wasn't a word, much to my dismay.  So I changed it to un-clenched emotion.  I wasn't giving up on my title even though I thought the word didn't exist.  It's a sad thing I changed it with the dash, because that makes it harder to find.

To my humiliation, when I posted on boards on Create Space, where I published my book, that unclenched wasn't a word, I faced some correction.  It is a word.  I had to have other authors telling me so.  That's really embarrassing for someone who studied English, but we all have our faults.  What does unclenched mean?  In the most basic sense it means to open from a clenched position.  Like unclenching your teeth.  Or it can mean to relax.  It just goes to show you that you should not rely on spell check.  It's not just Word that has unclenched as misspelled, it's doing it here on blogspot too.  (Funny note, blogspot is also underlined in red).  I have all kinds of red underling a word that has a definition and is spelled correctly.  Confusing!

So why did I choose "Un-Clenched Emotion" for my title?  I wanted something that described emotion uninhibited.  I wanted to describe hidden emotions opening up.  I wanted to describe emotion as a positive state, and relaxed is that.  My poetry is full of emotion and I was (and will be in the future) writing about my feeling.  Sometimes writing about feelings that I'm guessing others feel.  I think in great writer should put their feelings into their words, unabashed.  They should be "open" about it instead of "clenched"  I was in my book so  ultimately, I think I have a great title.  I just wish I published without the dash!

The Cover Photo of Un-Clenched Emotion

I wanted to talk a little about the cover that's on my book, "Un-Clenched Emotion".  I believe it is awesome, and friends and family have told me that it is beautiful, so I know it's not just me.  It's a picture of the sun, and it is reflected in the ocean on a beach.

I thought maybe my book price as $5.50 might be high, for a little over 20 poems.  However, I think the photo on the cover is worth much more than that, even without the poetry.  I'm not a photographer in any way, but some of my family members are, and some friends too.  Their photos sale for $50 dollars and up.  I always thought I took good pictures, but I don't have a professional camera and I wouldn't know how to start to sell a photo for such a price.  I still think I'm good with a digital or phone camera though.  If I was selling this picture, I would not be ashamed to accept a reasonable amount of money for that breathtaking scenery.  Compared to $50, $5.50 is quite a deal!

The picture on the cover of "Un-Clenched Emotion" was taken in SeaSide Oregon. I was simply on vacation with my family and happened to be at the beach.  I was captivated by the scenery.  I wanted to hold onto if forever, so I did the next best thing and took a photo.  It's too bad I couldn't bottle the scent or record the sounds of the ocean.  It was such a great feeling to be in SeaSide  I had no plans for that photo except personal enjoyment.  The double sun, in the water, and in the sky really speaks of natures beauty.  It's a reflection of it self, and that is poetic all on it's own.  The picture puts you in a serene sort of mind, perfect for when your reading poetry.

I didn't write any poems solely about the sun in my book, but I definitely mentioned it once or twice.  I did write a poem entitled "The Sea" which makes the beach a perfect representative of what's in the book.  This poem also mentions the sun in it.  This is in the Enjoyment part of the book.  I placed it there because I love the ocean and find it enjoyable.  I do mention the sun later on in the book in the philosophizing part entitled "Seeking".  In this poem, the sun is more of a metaphor, but the imagery still helps me justify putting a photo of the sun on the front of the book.

I haven't made any book sales that I know of,  (Not until I simply see money in my account will I know if I did).  I'm not sure if anyone accepted my free kindle book either. (I will never know unless someone posts a review).  Perhaps reading poetry isn't that popular.  But even if you don't like poetry, you could still buy the book simply for the beauty of the cover!  I understand if you don't want to get the kindle copy for that, but the kindle price is $2.99 so you're not paying "extra" for the cover. https://www.amazon.com/Un-Clenched-Emotion-Natasha-Gruss-ebook/dp/B01LZNVH4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494455180&sr  I'm proud of my poems, and I'm proud of my creation.  I think everything about it is beautiful and everyone who has seen the book has told me it is too.  I just wish I was better at getting it out to the public!

Discouragement to Encouragement From "The Princess Bride"

The free book promotion is over.  I'm a little discouraged about publishing this poetry book, because as far as I know it's not getting out there.  I have no way of knowing if anyone choose to take care of this opportunity to get "Un-Clenched Emotion" or not.  The only way I have of knowing is if someone posts a review, and no one has.  It's disheartening that no one has paid money for the book except for me.  Not even my parents. they were hoping I would buy it for them and they don't have a kindle.  I'm still glad I published this book though.

I just finished reading "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman,  Yes, I read it, I didn't just watch the movie, though I have in the past and is one of my favorites.  That's why I got the book.  Anyway, I read a funny, encouraging passage on the poet Browning.  It goes like this:

"Did you know that Robert Browning's first book of poems didn't sell one copy?  True.  Even his mother didn't buy it at her local bookstore.  Have you ever heard anything more humiliating? How would you like to have been Browning and it's your first book and you have these secret hopes that now, now , you'll be somebody.  Established, Important.  And you give it a week before you ask the publisher how things are going, because you don't want to seem pushy or anything.  And then maybe you drop by, and it was probably all very English and understandable in those days, and you're Browning and you chitchat around a bit, before you drop the biggie: "Oh, by the way, any notions yet on how my poems might be doing?'  And then his editor who has been dreading this moment, probably says, "Well, you know how it is with poetry these days; nothing's taking off like it used to, requires a bit of time for the word to get around.' And then finally, somebody had to say it. 'None, Bob, Sorry, Bob, no, we haven't yet had one authenticated sale.  We thought for a bit that Hatchards had a potential buyer down by Piccadilly, but it didn't quite work out,  Sorry, Bob; of course we'll keep you posted in the event of a breakthrough." (Goldman, p. 227-228)

This of course, probably isn't true.  Part of the delight of The Princess Bride is it's funny b,s.  It got me thinking though.  Did Browning not sell his first book of poems? (According to Wikipedia he couldn't get a publisher at 12 so destroyed the book, but that's at twelve years old and who's published a book that young?.)  Knowing that this has happened to a famous poet (even if it happened fictitiously) gives me encouragement.  Sure no one has bought my book yet (that I know of)  But they may in the future,  And it may not be until I'm dead, but that's okay.  I just want people to get enjoyment out of my work, whatever the date may be.  I hope this inspires other struggling authors as well.  Some day you may be famous no matter how far you've gotten in your writing by now!

Celebrate Poetry Month

It's April.  That means it's poetry month!  I have written poems about different times of the month.  April was my second favorite month, because that's when I got to go on vacations in the previous years.  October is my favorite because I love the fall, and that's when I met my true love.  I'm starting to get a liking for March too since that's when my love moved in with me!  April still has it's benefits though.  In the place I live there is a tulip festival every year, so I am surrounded in beauty,  The weather finally gets nicer in April, and it is time to celebrate poetry.  Celebrate poetry month by getting my book, "Un-Clenched" emotion on Create Space or Amazon.