(Continuation from Analysing Poetry Part 1)

The structure is another vital consideration. The specific arrangement of stanzas and the order of events presented in the poem should make sense. Even though the language used in the poem is not necessarily direct, this does not mean that the poem should be incomprehensible. The poem's outline should be strategically created to support the theme or the underlying messages in the poem.

Perhaps the need to show instead of tell will add an extra bit of flavor in a poem. This style works well in both poetry and narratives. When a poet wants to convey their sorrow, they could describe what they feel and let the reader draw a conclusion of the scenario for themselves. Contrary to this is when the poetry outrightly says they are full of sorrow. Guiding the reader to feel a particular way in most cases proves more effective and impactful. 

Some of the best poems are the most simple. Sometimes intricacy or complication is not a good thing. It often represents a hidden issue, probably the inability of the poem to use simple language to bring out a fascinating theme. The over reliance on complex language may be confusing and sometimes it shows pretentiousness. An example of a well-crafted poem that uses simple language which is remarkably powerful is Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman. In the first stanza, she writes,

"The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally."

The language used is simple yet the impact of the words can be felt deeply. Another similarly straightforward yet compelling poem is Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden.

For poetry written for children, simple fun lines that contain humor, a thread of adventure and captivating characters are more essential than difficult vocabulary. How the words rhyme and simplify articulation is definitely significant. 

As a whole, the poem should come together as discussed in the earlier paragraph. Most key building factors of any poem are usually interdependent on each other. Perfecting one feature and ignoring the other can ultimately prove detrimental. Even while trying to make a poem special, extra attention should be paid to ensure that all aspects blend together. The harmonization of line breaks, grammar and design should not be sacrificed for the sake of uniqueness.

Remember the goal. The purpose of analyzing poetry in a critique is to make the poet better. For the poet, it should stem from the need to grow and be better. We all start from somewhere and, even in the desire to convey or to learn, we should not lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing.

Finally, be positive. Poetry is about adventure, thrill and taking it all in while allowing yourself to feel. As you begin reading any poem, let your curiosity get the better of you as you try to deduce the meaning. Start imagining and painting images in your mind and for a while forget all that is around you and follow the trails of new dimensions.