Subject area: Episode 1 – An Ode to Poetry

Format: Good Librations Podcast available on Spotify

Length: 1 hour

Audience: Public library professionals, general audience interested in poetry as a genre

Presenter: Podcast hosts from Kiama Library

Reflection:

I wanted to explore the subject of poetry from the viewpoint of a librarian. This was the first episode of the podcast from two Kiama public librarians and poetry as the first topic of decision was an interesting choice. As an avid reader, and more recently interested in poetry, authors such as Mary Oliver, Jane Hirshfield and Kahlil Gibran, I want to invite the possibility of poetry entering into the realm of my profession, perhaps in subtler modes of making connections to the local community and using poetry as yet another avenue for building community.

This was an enjoyable listen, that was a general overview of poetry across a wide timeline from Rumi and Homer to more contemporary poets such as Maya Angelou and Neil Hilborn. I learned about the basic functions, patterns, and structures of a different types of poetry such as sonnets, limericks, and haiku. I learned about some of the history and contemporary names associated with spoken word and slam poetry that takes on topics such as decolonisation and racism, and how the performance of the poetry is as important as the word themselves. Furthermore, the the cadence of rhyme and rhythm, and the way poetry is written for repeated recitations, can be a tool for helping children learn through practice. Poetry also bends the rules of language or does away with them entirely, it is a playful and creative experience in both reciting and constructing. Social media has also been a tool for sharing poetry and exposing more people to how this medium has evolved since it is often associated with classical, more lyrically dense poetry that is not as accessible as more contemporary forms.

I’m able to use the learnings of this discussion to reflect on the personal and creative nature of poetry and how public libraries can use poetry to invite readers and patrons to encounter and consider important topics such as political and environmental issues in sensitive and nuanced ways. It made me think about the possibility of poetry clubs and how public libraries can make poetry more accessible to communities or even integrate subcultures of slam poetry that critique dominant ideologies and power structures. Listening to this I realized poetry is lot more accessible and communal than I thought and has the potential to very easily and quickly capture new readers.