4. ENJOY YOURSELF
Is it possible to read too much into a poem? Yeah, it probably is. But believe us, we haven't even come close. Whether each reader will accept another reader's interpretation as the final truth is part of what makes poetry rewarding. Despite what a professor may tell you, there is no "correct" reading of a poem. The more complex a poem is, the more open it is to multiple meanings. But this does not mean you should be a lazy reader, and just sit back and stare at a poem to see how it "feels." If you're going to spend your time doing something as wussy as reading poetry, you'll want to put a little effort into it, anyway.
Having said that, if it's still possible for you to enjoy poetry for its own sake, to be carried away by the language and rhythm of a poet's work, then you are getting something out of it. In fact, you're getting the thing that makes it worthwhile in the first place.
To check out some more great poetry (if you've not had your fill for, say, the next fifteen years or so), check out Representative Poetry On-Line, maintained by the University of Toronto English Department. They've got hundreds of poets and poems available online. We leave you with our own special poem:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
That's our advice
(In "Verdana" font too!)
