Category: reading

The Joy of Sharing Poetry in Adult Reading Groups

Published on by gilliampoetLeave a comment
Photo by Bade Saba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-holding-an-open-book-with-seeds-in-it-15936115/

There are so many groups centered around the craft of writing, and book groups can be found at every local library, but what about those who enjoy poetry? Groups centered around poetry can help us tune out the digital noise of this fast-paced world and focus on the beauty and wonder that can be captured in a poem. Adult reading groups (even those that don’t focus on poetry!) provide a meaningful space for connection, reflection, and creativity, which can be hard to find these days. 

I recently received an invitation to be a guest speaker at a local poetry gathering. The meeting coordinator asked that I share not just my writing process, but what inspired each piece. We had a conversation between each poem where group members shared how the poem resonated with them and personal experiences they saw reflected in the poem. It was an open, engaging conversation that I’ve never experienced at other readings I’ve done. This group is accustomed to sharing poems with each other and closely reading them together (though often they aren’t poems written by any members of the group). I’m hoping to join more meetings in the future to participate in the discussions they have about other poets’ work.

Why Poetry?

Poetry has a unique ability to distill deep emotions and complex ideas into a few powerful lines. Unlike traditional book clubs that focus on lengthy narratives, poetry groups embrace the power of brevity and rhythm, allowing for rich discussions within a short span of time. Reading a poem is less of a time commitment than an entire novel. Whether exploring classic poets like Emily Dickinson and Rumi or contemporary voices such as Amanda Gorman and Ocean Vuong, these groups celebrate the diverse perspectives poetry offers. Close readings of poetry can also allow us to focus on the beauty of the language itself.

Benefits of Poetry Reading Groups

1. Help People Connect Emotionally

Poetry allows people to express their feelings and thoughts. Reading and talking about poems in a group helps members open up, relate to each other, and feel supported.

2. Encourage Creativity

Being part of a poetry group can inspire people to write their own poems. Whether they try writing on their own or share their work with the group, they get a chance to be creative and hear helpful feedback. However, the creative spark might extend beyond writing. One of the group members today brought up that she is a painter and is sometimes inspired to make art. Ekphrastic poems are inspired by visual art, but that inspiration can go both ways!

3. Improve Listening and Thinking Skills

Poetry can be deep and full of hidden meanings. When people read poetry together, they practice listening carefully and thinking about different interpretations, helping them see new perspectives.

4. Create a Sense of Community

Sharing poetry helps people feel connected. Whether meeting in person or online, poetry groups provide a friendly and welcoming space where people can relax, share ideas, and enjoy meaningful conversations.

How to Start or Join a Poetry Reading Group

  • Find a Local or Online Group: Many libraries, bookstores, and community centers host poetry groups. If you prefer a virtual option, platforms like Meetup and Facebook often feature online poetry discussions.
  • Select a Theme or Poet: Each session can focus on a specific poet, theme (e.g., love, nature, resilience), or poetic form (e.g., haiku, sonnets, free verse) to guide discussions.
  • Encourage Participation: Allow members to bring their favorite poems or share their own work.
  • Create a Welcoming Atmosphere: Set the tone for an inclusive and respectful dialogue where all voices are valued and diverse perspectives are celebrated. Also, snacks are always a crowd pleaser!

Final Thoughts

Poetry reading groups offer more than just literary discussion—they provide a space for connection, inspiration, and personal growth. Whether you’re an avid poetry lover or a newcomer to verse, joining a poetry group can open new doors to creative expression and meaningful relationships.

Do you participate in a poetry reading group? Share your experiences or favorite poems in the comments below!

Here is a link for one of my favorite poems submitted last year to Instant Noodles. We liked it so much, we nominated it for an award. THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE GUNSHOTS ~ Michelle Meyer

Why Prose Writers Should Make Reading Poetry a Daily Habit

Published on by virginiawattsLeave a comment

Many writers, including myself, write both prose and poetry. For me, it just depends on the subject matter as to which form I choose. Many writers begin with one form of writing and evolve to another. There are some writers who begin in one genre and stay there. In the end of the day, our paths are different, but we are all writers, and all writers want to tell a story. We want readers to feel something, experience something, remember something. We want them to leave us changed in some small way. Even if you don’t want to learn about the craft of poetry in a formal way, as in attending workshops, just reading a few poems a day will improve your prose writing in ways that will surprise you. 

Poetry as a form succeeds on bold, visual imagery, exact information from all the senses. This is how the reader enters the poem and lives inside it for a brief time. By reading lines of poetry, prose writers will also experience and come to understand why rhythm matters. There is great impact when rhythm is found in sentences and phrases.

One of the defining benefits of studying and writing poetry for me as a prose writer has been that in poetry more than any other genre, each and every word must do work, and I mean each and every word. Poets take time and great care choosing words and prose writers, if you want to be your best, you should be doing that as well, but it takes practice. Read Hemingway again to see why this matters. 

Poetry has the same elements as prose writing, such as characterization and narrative arc, but it contains more unexpected phrases, surprises and turns that send readers in directions they didn’t expect. This is often missing from prose writing, and it shouldn’t be. Additionally, poetry teaches us about pace. How long lines with no punctuation slow the reader down. How a short line placed just right can then really pack a punch. 

Prose writers can also use traditional poetry techniques to enhance their narratives such as assonance, linking words with similar vowel sounds. Using words in this way can produce a desired effect on the reader such as a calming effect as if listening to music. 

My greatest lesson and take away as a prose writer who reads poetry every single day is that endings are so incredibly important. When you read enough good poems, you’ll see what I mean. And stories, like poems, deserve the best endings possible. This is something to strive for. 

So, you want to be a good prose writer? Then read poetry. Simple as that. Poetry teaches us all how to use our language. Poetry teaches how to describe. Poetry demonstrates mood, voice, momentum in unexpected ways. We all want the same thing. To tell the story we want to tell in the best way we can. Reading poetry will help us learn to do that. 

There are many good online literary journals where you can read poems: Narrative Magazine, Agni, Carve, Rattle, 32 Poems, A Public Space, Apple Valley Review, Evergreen Review, The Cortland Review, Waxwing, Pigeon Pages, Cleaver Magazine, Able Muse. 

You can also sign up to receive daily poems from: Rattle, Your Daily Poem, Poem-a-Day, Poetry Daily, Poem of the Day. All these are free as is the wonderful podcast written and hosted by one of my favorite poets Padraig O Tuama: Poetry Unbound. I would also highly recommend Padraig’s wonderful book: 50 Poems to Open Your World.  

Happy Reading!  

~Ginny

Virginia Watts has been fortunate to have published nearly 100 pieces in literary magazines including CRAFT, The Florida Review, Reed Magazine, Pithead Chapel, Permafrost Magazine, Broadkill Review, Two Thirds North, Hawaii Pacific Review, Sky Island Journal, Eastern Iowa Review, Evening Star Review and Streetlight Magazine. Nominated four times for a Pushcart Prize and four times for Best of the Net, in 2019, Watts won The Florida Review Meek Award in nonfiction.

Her poetry chapbooks The Werewolves of Elk Creek 

and Shot Full of Holes are available from Moonstone Press. Her debut short story collection Echoes from the Hocker House is available on Amazon.

Photo shows raised fists beneath the word resist in orange block letters.

Writing and Reading for the Resistance: The Power of Words in a Time of Struggle

Published on by gilliampoet1 Comment

Photo shows raised fists beneath the word resist in orange block letters.

Words have power. In times of injustice, oppression, and uncertainty, words become more than just ink on a page—they become weapons, shields, and bridges. They can challenge unfair systems, inspire people to take action, and bring communities together. Writing and reading for the resistance means using stories, poems, and books to fight injustice and create a better future. Throughout history, people have used words to stand up against oppression—and today, we can do the same.

Writing as a Way to Fight Back

Writing can be a powerful tool in the fight for justice. To write is to document, to bear witness, and to refuse erasure. The act of storytelling itself can be a radical act, especially when it amplifies the voices of those who are silenced. It allows people to share their truths, educate others, and imagine a better world. Writing for the resistance can include:

  • Telling Untold Stories – Write about important events or people that history books ignore.
  • Challenging Misinformation – Speak out against lies and rewriting stories that are unfair or incomplete.
  • Creating New Worlds – Use fiction, poetry, or essays to imagine new possibilities that envision a just world.
  • Providing a Platform – Elevate marginalized voices, offering them space to share their truths.

Reading as a Form of Resistance

Reading isn’t just about learning—it can be a way to resist oppression. What we read shapes how we see the world, so choosing books wisely is important. Some ways reading can be an act of resistance include:

  • Reading Banned Books – Books that are censored often contain ideas that challenge powerful systems.
  • Learning from Activists and Leaders – Reading about people who fought for justice in the past can teach us how to do the same today.
  • Supporting Diverse Authors – Seek out authors whose voices are often ignored by mainstream publishing. Choosing books by writers from different backgrounds helps bring new voices into the conversation.
  • Sharing Knowledge – Share books, discuss ideas, and create spaces where literature fuels action. Talking about books with others can spread important ideas and inspire others to act. 

How You Can Take Action

If you want to use reading and writing to create change, here are some ways to start:

  1. Join or Start a Book Club – Read books that challenge systems of oppression and discuss them with friends.
  2. Write and Share Your Ideas – Whether through social media, blogs, or poetry, use your words to stand up for what’s right.
  3. Support Independent Bookstores & Libraries – These places often carry books that challenge unfair systems.
  4. Document What’s Happening – Keep a journal, write about current events, or interview people to make sure important stories aren’t forgotten.

Resistance is an ongoing effort, and literature—whether through reading or writing—has always been a vital part of that struggle. Words have changed the world before, and they can do it again. By reading and writing with purpose, we can stand up against injustice and help create a better future.

What books have inspired you to take action? What stories still need to be told? Share your thoughts and let’s keep the conversation going!

Books About the Power of Words & Resistance

For Middle & High School Readers

  1. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi – A powerful, engaging look at how racist ideas have shaped history and how we can challenge them.
  2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – A novel about police violence, activism, and finding your voice in the face of injustice.
  3. Internment by Samira Ahmed – A dystopian novel about a near-future America where Muslim Americans are sent to internment camps, and a young girl fights back.
  4. Maus by Art Spiegelman – A graphic novel that tells the story of the Holocaust through the eyes of the author’s father, using animals to represent different groups.
  5. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson – A memoir in verse about growing up Black in America and the power of storytelling.

For Adult Readers (But Still Accessible)

  1. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin – A powerful collection of essays about race and justice in America.
  2. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – A short but powerful book about gender equality.
  3. 1984 by George Orwell – A classic novel about government control, censorship, and the fight for truth.
  4. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston – A story of a Black woman’s journey to find her own voice in a society that tries to silence her.
  5. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – A dystopian novel about a future where a theocratic government strips women of their rights, reducing them to roles based on reproduction.

Poetry & Essays for Resistance

  1. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine – A mix of poetry and essays that explore race, identity, and resistance.
  2. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur – Poetry about survival, resilience, and healing from oppression.
  3. The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman – The poem that was read at President Biden’s inauguration, full of hope and resistance.
  4. I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina – A novel in verse about police violence and the impact of activism.
  5. How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu – A novel about identity, immigration, and reclaiming personal and historical narratives.