Andrey's questions about poems (split from the intro thread)

[AndreyGaganov]

I wonder how important early exposure to poetry is, to enjoyment of it? I can't think of a child brought up without nursery rhymes, fairy stories (spells in particular, they always rhymed), skipping rope chants, hymns, prayers, but I suppose it happens. 

Much of the literature that I read as a kid was prose. But when it came to poetry, it would always be something Russian, be it a piece from Alexander Pushkin or Anna Akhmatova. But I don't remember us classmates being taught how to approach poetry; we just didn't care. We were all just kids. We didn't know why we had to memorize a poem, stand up in front of the class, and retell it. It always seemed like a chore. 

Even Sesame Street does a lot of poetry. 

Never liked that show as a kid. Sorry.

Are you familiar with the hymn "Jerusalem'?

It was written as a short poem, and a hundred years later it was put to music. The musicality is obvious, not least to Hubert Parry.

I did hear it set to music thanks to (drum roll, please) Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and they did a fantastic job putting it to music. (Check it out on Brain Salad Surgery.) But I wasn't really paying attention to the lyrics. Very few prog rock fans pay attention to the lyrics. Maybe some time today I'll listen to it and pull up a lyric sheet.