Poems That Speak to Us: What Makes a Poem Resonate?

“Tell all the truth but tell it slant —” Emily Dickinson’s instruction captures something essential about poetry: the way it conveys truth not through direct statements, but through images, rhythm, compression, and surprise. Is there a poem that speaks a truth to you, but you can’t quite say how it does it? This class invites you to bring in a poem that moves you. Together, we’ll explore how the poem’s effect is created by the poet—how it provokes thought, stirs emotion, or lingers in memory. Whether you’re drawn to a particular line, a shift in tone, or the shape of the poem itself, we’ll use close reading and group discussion to uncover what makes a poem resonate. Whether you’re a lifelong reader of poetry or newly curious about its possibilities, this course offers a welcoming space to read, reflect, and discover the wide range of modern poetry. Barbara Thimm is a writer, translator, and educator. Her translations of selected poems by Timothy Donnelly and Mary Jo Bang were published by luxbooks in Germany. “A Discovery Behind the House,” the translation of a short story by Ror Wolf, appeared in Asymptote. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two sons.