I like to read out loud
to turn tiny marks
regimented on the page
from text to sound
filtered through eyes that read
brain to comprehend
a mouth that shapes my voice.
Poetry or prose the
writer laid words down
wrapped round meanings
all their own but
which we readers too
may catch and breathe
out into space between
mouth and ear
reader and listener.
Even reading aloud alone
brings out meaning, makes it clear
and once peeled from the page
I sit and let the words hang there…
© Andrew Wilson, 2024
Tonight, our host over at dVerse Poets Pub is lillian in Poetics who, feeling nostalgic on the occasion of her 8th anniversary hosting at the bar, has resurrected for the third time, an ekphrastic prompt provided by the artist Catrin Welz-Stein. Catrin has enjoyed providing the inspiration for the pub-goers twice before and enjoys the interaction. I picked one of the four pictures which Catrin kindly allowed us to use…
I like to read out loud, too. The rhythm and rhyme are much clearer that way.
Any chance – to read mine or other people’s work, Nolcha…
A lovely interpretation of the art! I imagine anyone fortunate to listen as you read aloud would be ‘hooked’ forever. I like ‘hanging words.’
Thank you Helen – my turn to blush… I can’t see Mr Linky on my phone but I will be over to yours tomorrow 💜
I really liked this piece. It does justice to the image by not just describing it but also adding so much depth.
Thank you OP – that’s what I was aiming for…
I like your take on this prompt. Lovely poem.
Thank you Maria…
There are words meant to be heard and performed. And there are words meant only for the reader to say in their heads. Let the words hang out. I enjoyed learning this part of your writing process.
That is true Grace – some are best read in private communion…
Great poem!
Thanks Mrityunjay…
Your poem complememts well this image. Well done.
Much♡love
Thanks Gillena 💜
I too enjoy reading aloud, Andrew, sometimes to myself, sometimes to the cats and, when I visit my daughter, to my grandsons. I like the phrase ‘a mouth that shapes my voice’ and these lines especially:
‘… once peeled from the page
I sit and let the words hang there…’
Thanks, Kim – Barbara is the one person who would rather read than have me read my pieces aloud and we don’t have a cat…
Book-reading seems arcane — requires an explanation which means it’s largely lost. Yet the pleasures yielded from the printed page, the dialogue of writer and reader through that ghostly medium, is so much more enduring and fixed than this distracted whisper off fleeting screens. Nicely voiced.
Thanks Brenda…
Sorry – Brendan
….and this is exactly why I love our dVerse LIVE sessions – because folks read a poem aloud! You’ve captured the idea of reading aloud so well here…..and what a great connection to the image! I especially like these lines
“which we readers too
may catch and breathe
out into space between
mouth and ear
reader and listener.”
and that image you create at the end is wonderful…of words and letters being peeled from the page!
Thank you so much Lillian!
I know what you mean… words mean so much more if they are read aloud. It should be done more out of respect to the author even.
Yes! By keeping their words alive we keep them alive. Perhaps we should have an OLN for reading our favourite poets…
Gorgeous, gorgeous response to the prompt, Andrew! 💖💖
Thank you so much Sanaa 😊
“and once peeled from the page
I sit and let the words hang there…” Oh, yes. wonderful
Many thanks, Debi…
Hi Andrew, I also love to read and I like being read to so I listen to audio books. I read to both my sons, my nephews and nieces and the children in my Sunday School class. A wonderful poem for readers about reading 🌸
I get the reading out loud, it makes a difference on so many levels. This has a beautiful rhythm and flows so well.
Thank you Paul – it’s great to capture an autobiographical moment as well as to put it to poetic use…
Andrew, reading aloud does act as a final proofreader for me at times, and I’ve caught a lot of errors in my writing that way over the years.
Good point, Lisa..
Great lines: “the
writer laid words down
wrapped round meanings
all their own but
which we readers too
may catch and breathe”
I try to remember to read my poems out loud before publishing. Sometimes I forget. It is helpful.
Thanks, Melissa I see the pause in dVerse is letting you dig deep – I would have been doing the same if I hadn’t been travelling…