I’ve tried getting into poetry before, but I think I haven found the right spot in my life for it? Usually I read when I have at least half an hour to spare - on my commute, before bed, a rainy afternoon alone, etc. But I can’t sit down, take a book of poems and then read one after another for 30 minutes, right?
It feels like I should give them more space. But then I never just feel like picking up the book, read a poem and then go on with something else.
Do you have a dedicated time, like reading one poem each day before bed? Do you sit down with a book of poetry, read one and then just think about it for a while until you’re ready for the next?
I do a light reading, then depending on what sticks out I go back and read them aloud to see what makes them resonate. I’ll read a couple back to back, but I find it’s best to follow any inklings of natural curiosity then see what else the poem is doing.
I’ll read a poem, sit with it for 1-2 minutes, then read another one. My “stop conditions” are
-if I read one and immediately want to dive into the next one. That means I’m not in a good state of mind to really absorb poetry right now, or I’m just reading to get through the book.
-if one really hits me and I want to give that one time to work on me and not “overwrite it” right away
-if I notice they’re starting to feel same-y and I can’t keep the ones I’ve just read apart anymore
If either of those conditions is reached it’s time to do something else for a bit before giving poetry another turn.
I would advocate to always read a poem in its original language, and never a translation.
I go through spurts when I read poetry only for months at a time, and then go back to novels.