This is the first year I have tried the Sealey Challenge. For my faithful readers you know I love challenges and the Sealey Challenge is perfect for me, read a book of poetry everyday in August.
I am halfway through and have discovered some fun benefits of doing this challenge.
The first aspect I noticed by reading a collection of a poet in a day is the power of voice. That magical writing element that connects any writer with their reader, the element that makes that personal connection. By spending a day reading one poet, I got a better feel for their style, their voice. Yes, reading a few poems can hint at what a poet’s voice is like, but being submerged in a full collection reveals a truer sense of who they are.
Connected with voice are the themes and even objects / places that influence a poet. In some ways this has been the coolest benefit of this challenge. I have read classic poets, Nebraska poets, urban writers, and have found myself understanding how a place or event has impacted their view of the world and their poetry. This is the power of reading, but the challenge breaks the habit of just reading a few poems. Kind of like listening to a full album, not just the hit songs of an artist.
The Sealey Challenge has been a great experience so far. Even if you don’t participate in the challenge, when reading poetry find time to spend time reading more than one or two poems. You don’t have to read the whole book, but spending time immersed in their work will allow you to gain a deeper appreciation for the poems and the poet.
It is all Connected 