Do You Prefer Reading or Listening to Poetry?
I've been writing and reading poetry since before my teen years. Likewise fiction though none of it survives written before my undergraduate college days. There is something very special about poetry, even in less than articulate hands as mine, that connects with us at a deeper, different level than fiction. And there is a big difference between reading and hearing poetry read (especially by its author), at least for me.
I also enjoy reading my work aloud, though it is harder than it should be for someone like me who writes extensively and lectures for a living and who is extremely comfortable in front of large and small classes or addressing large and small groups of people as I've done for many year in my roles as professor, lawyer, and various academic administration roles. Much of my fiction and nearly all of my poetry hits very close to home, so maintaining objectivity in reading it aloud is not always easy. Nevertheless I try from time to time, even if I am less than enthused by some of the results.
I've posted a good deal of samples of my fiction and poetry read by me in my other blogs and YouTube. In some cases I created a slide show that allows listeners to both hear my reading of some of my poems while also reading along if they are so inclined. I'd be curious to know your thoughts and preference, as I'd like to provide some links to some of those readings here if at least a handful of people will actually like to hear me read samples of poems I've written over the years (old and new) that are special to me, ranging from Sonnets (my absolute favorite form of poetry), Haikus, blank verse, free verse, and so on.
I'll start the ball rolling with just one sample from my published books of poetry and let me know if you would like to see more of these and/or my reading of a few complete short stories. I'll post links in this blog from time to time. For now, let me start with just a few with and without accompanying text. I hope you enjoy them.
You can hear me read a variety of my sonnets on YouTube by clicking HERE.
