A Guide from 'AllPoetry': How to Read Poems Out Loud

A Guide To Reading Poems Out Loud

• Poetry predates written languages - it was always read out loud.
• The rhythm to a poem is much more evident
• Awkward places or missing words are much more obvious
• Putting each word through your breath & mouth & tongue is a powerful experience

How do you read a poem out loud well?

• Scan the poem briefly, noting stanza sizes, commas/periods, line formatting, repeated lines, and reading the first line, last line, and title.
• Be willing to look up words you don't understand. A quick google search will do.
• Find the right tone of voice - some poems are angry "slam" poems, some are melancholy elegies. Something more neutral is usually best, but I often find lines I want to read with more emphasis (look for exclamation points)
• Take your time - rushing out loud doesn't work like reading faster does. Commit to the process.
• You don't need an audience - I usually read out loud to myself.