If you’ve been reading classical, modern, or post-modern poems, you have probably found some favorites whose work you admire enough to study. If not, look for time-tested or new poems in a poetry anthology, book of poems, or Internet site.

For example, read “Journey of the Magi,” “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” and almost anything else by T.S. Eliot. Especially notice the musicality, metaphors, and precision of his word choices as you read his work aloud. For example: “When the evening is spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherized upon a table.” Or, “Streets that follow like a tedious argument.” Eliot also uses repetition skillfully, for instance, “And indeed, there will be time” followed by a line such as, “To wonder, ‘Do I dare?’ and ‘Do I dare?’” The latter phrase also repeats in, “Do I dare/ Disturb the Universe?” Each technique works brilliantly together in his poems yet connects with readers because of such common questions as, “Do I dare?” and “And how should I begin?” For serious study, T. S. Eliot’s poems provide a great beginning.

To find other models to study, look for books by Pulitzer Prize winners of poetry, such as Richard Wilbur, Mary Oliver, Robert Frost or Carl Sandburg. To become acquainted with a variety of poets, read poetry anthologies and the works of Catholic mystics, such as Catherine of Siena, Clare and Francis of Assisi, St. John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and the 20th century monk Thomas Merton.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (19th century Catholic priest) skillfully utilized alliteration as shown by his frequent choice of singular repetitive sounds. Carried to the extreme, you would have what’s commonly known as a tongue twister. When read aloud, Fr. Hopkins’ poetry comes close to twisting on such lines as, “Because the Holy Ghost over the bent/ World broods with warm breast and Ah! bright wings.” If you read those lines aloud as the poet surely intended, you’ll hear sound repetitions in the consonants “b” and “w.” That type of alliteration is known as consonance, whereas assonance refers to a repeated vowel sound. Both types of sound echoes, however, add alliteration.

Spring and Fall To a Young Child

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Margaret, are you grieving

Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Leaves, like the things of man, you

with your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Ah! as the heart grows older

It will come to such sights colder

By and by, nor spare a sigh

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;

And yet you will weep and know why.

Now no matter, child, the name:

Sorrow’s springs are the same.

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

What heart heard of, ghost guessed.

It is the blight man was born for.

It is Margaret you mourn for.

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