Skip to main content

What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs

  • 1,780,012 Views
  • 89,406 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

What exactly makes a poem … a poem? Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Melissa Kovacs shares three recognizable characteristics of most poetry.

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Melissa Kovacs
  • Director Richard O'Connor
  • Producer Richard O'Connor
  • Animator Taisiya Zaretskaya, Phil Powers
  • Illustrator Taisiya Zaretskaya
  • Composer Gareth Averill
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • See more
Additional Resources for you to Explore
The first poems were read aloud. Their regular patterns aided memorization of genealogy, oral history, and law. The performance aspect of poetry has never disappeared; Robert Frost toured the country and earned a living mainly through poetry readings. In 2012, there were 7,427 poetry readings in April, National Poetry Month. Some would even say poetry is meant to be read aloud.

The poetic tradition can relate to orators, who craft messages to be delivered aloud to an audience. Like the earliest poets, many times the words of political speeches live on in our collective memories. The speeches of JFK, Winston Churchill, and Martin Luther King use common poetic techniques.

Today, performance poetry has become a genre unto itself, most notably, in the rise of slam poetry in the 1980’s. A departure from traditional poetry, slam poetry blends speech, rap, theatrics and poetry. To see slam poetry in action, check out the following TED talks:
Taylor Mali, “What Teachers Make”Sarah Kay, “If I Should Have a Daughter”Harry Baker, “A Love Poem for Lonely Prime Numbers”
In 2016, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his song-writing, but not without controversy. Read more about Dylan’s work and decide for yourself whether it stands up without the music. Are his songs poetry? Are his lyrics literature? Singer Natalie Merchant’s TED talk also emphasizes the fluidity of song and poetry. Merchant turns the words of 19th Century poetry into beautiful songs.

The lesson begins with a poem delivered by Muhammad Ali. This short poem may defy our idea of what a poem is, but similar examples of brief yet meaningful poems abound. For example, Aram Saroyan published this one-word poem in The American Literary Anthology in 1965: lighght. For more examples, check out this video on short poems.

Free verse poetry defied many of the conventions of traditional poetry when a movement began to “free” poetry from strict form standards and instead mimic the patterns and rhythms of everyday speech. This upset poetry purists, or “formalists,” who believed that an adherence to traditional patterns of poetry was what made poetry poetry in the first place. Poets from Walt Whitman to Billy Collins have embraced this form.

Middle grade readers may enjoy the following free verse novels that have earned recognition:
Out of the Dust (1997) by Karen Hesse (Newbery Medal)Brown Girl Dreaming (2014) by Jacqueline Woodson (National Book Award, Newbery Honor)The Crossover (2014) by Kwame Alexander (Newbery Medal) Inside Out and Back Again (2011) by Thanhha Lai (Newbery Medal)
TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
Song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets can share characteristics with poetry. Can these ever be considered poems? Why or why not?
02/14/2017
Avatar for Heather Watford
Heather Watford • LESSON IN PROGRESS

y

03/22/2017
Avatar for Lisa Addy
Lisa Addy • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

03/26/2017
Avatar for Ibn Rivera
Ibn Rivera • COMPLETED LESSON

Absolutely! At least for the creators and makers and for all of the characteristics that make poetry a creative expression of explaining the human condition. Song lyrics, speeches and tweets (for me) are three faces, with infinite mysteries, being: universal, earthy, and human.

03/26/2017
Avatar for 찬 김
찬 김 • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

03/31/2017
Avatar for Suhyeon Kim
Suhyeon Kim • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

04/04/2017
Avatar for will miller
will miller • COMPLETED LESSON

A good example of Doric(Aberdeenshire )poems would be The Catties And The Doggies
by Tammas Blaw

04/07/2017 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Suhyeon Kim Show the comment
Avatar for AleXis Bingham
AleXis Bingham • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

05/09/2017
Avatar for Ellie White
Ellie White • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yeet

05/18/2017
Avatar for Phi Dan
Phi Dan • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Maybe not tweets. If a tweet sounds poetic, it is the content, the poem itself, not the act of tweeting.

07/06/2017
Avatar for Lela Izar
Lela Izar • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I agree. I don't think there is a genre in literature called 'tweet', Twitter is just a platform of communication. Of course you can make a poem in 275 characters, so, can the content of a tweet be called poetry? That should probably be the question...

07/24/2017 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Phi Dan Show the comment
Avatar for Tugba Akar
Tugba Akar • LESSON IN PROGRESS

As long as the writer is creative in his song/tweet etc . and has an aim to adress something taking people's attention, why not? of course these can be poem or a kinda literature piece.

09/16/2017
Avatar for juan rodriguez
juan rodriguez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

tha ting goes skraaa pa pop pop skeeti pop pop and a boom boom brooom

09/29/2017
Avatar for Home Work
Home Work • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, in the video he said poems are another way to do everything wrong [when writing a poem], meaning there is more than one way to create a poem. If there was a reason for you to write then your writing should be something, and mean something. So yes, the way you write it might be wrong it some eyes but if there is meaning behind it, a poem is what it is.

11/02/2017
Avatar for Rodrigo Casanova
Rodrigo Casanova • COMPLETED LESSON

Some of them can be.

11/26/2017
Avatar for Vanessa Dihe
Vanessa Dihe • COMPLETED LESSON

I thinks the songs sometimes are have letters or paraphs wonderful and other sometimes not

12/01/2017
Avatar for Andrea Perez
Andrea Perez • COMPLETED LESSON

I think that if the video it says that poets have different ways creating their works transmitting what they want to know.

12/06/2017
Avatar for Israel Ieb
Israel Ieb • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I agree. I don't think there is a genre in literature called 'tweet', Twitter is just a platform of communication. Of course you can make a poem in 275 characters, so, can the content of a tweet be called poetry? That should probably be the question...

12/06/2017
Avatar for Mason Joffrion
Mason Joffrion • COMPLETED LESSON

They can be considered poems because they are expressing feeling and emotion through music

02/28/2018
Avatar for Joseph Davis
Joseph Davis • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes if it has the characteristics of a poem, I think it could then be considered " modern" poetry.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Daniel Waguespack
Daniel Waguespack • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

02/28/2018
Avatar for Steffek Rainey
Steffek Rainey • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I believe that they are considered poetry because they all have the powerful language and sometimes rhyming words.

02/28/2018
Avatar for trent langlinais
trent langlinais • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because it is the way someone feels about something

02/28/2018
Avatar for Garrett Stuprich
Garrett Stuprich • COMPLETED LESSON

I think they can because it can get there feelings on something and you can understand that person.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Brock Boudreaux
Brock Boudreaux • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because i the video he discusses the debates about it. Then goes on to say that they can.

02/28/2018
Avatar for jack mangham
jack mangham • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

02/28/2018
Avatar for Brady Keller
Brady Keller • COMPLETED LESSON

I agree.

02/28/2018 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Daniel Waguespack Show the comment
Avatar for Ethan Fitzgerald
Ethan Fitzgerald • COMPLETED LESSON

I do believe these can be considered poems because in each a person can show human emotion and mood. Such as anger and happiness.

02/28/2018
Avatar for mccall chustz
mccall chustz • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they can express the feeling that one is having through the rythym of a song or speech

02/28/2018
Avatar for Lane Radford
Lane Radford • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, they rhyme and have a deeper meaning

02/28/2018
Avatar for Darren Murphy
Darren Murphy • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes as long as that make you feel like they are poetry.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Conner Graves
Conner Graves • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

02/28/2018
Avatar for John Rome
John Rome • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, anything that meets the requirements of a poem should be considered a poem. It can not just be any random tweet or something like that.

02/28/2018
Avatar for xavier glover
xavier glover • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, anything that rhymes or has a rhyme scheme can be called poetry. It cannot be any words or the same words. It has to be different words and also have some feeling when you write the poem.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Landon Shanley
Landon Shanley • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

02/28/2018
Avatar for Matthew Finnan
Matthew Finnan • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

02/28/2018
Avatar for Max Duet
Max Duet • COMPLETED LESSON

I suppose, they could be considered poetry because if you think about it everything in life has rhythm, everything is art, if a person were to tweet "yes" that is still art, it still shows us something in a deeper meaning.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Matthew Hubbell
Matthew Hubbell • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe that these can be considered poetry. While poetry is commonly associated with deep meaning messages containing rhymes and similes, I believe certain song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets can be considered poetry.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Christian Mannino
Christian Mannino • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because all three of theses are using words to form a point and that is what poetry is making a point using words.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Charlie Meche
Charlie Meche • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because no matter what form it is in poetry is still poery

02/28/2018
Avatar for Nicholas Raetzsch
Nicholas Raetzsch • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because if someone wants them to be poetry then they can be poetry.

02/28/2018
Avatar for MC Police
MC Police • COMPLETED LESSON

These can be characterized as poetry because they also give feeling out, just like regular poems.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Mason Zambo
Mason Zambo • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, anything can be a poem. As long as it makes sense

02/28/2018
Avatar for Blake Cook
Blake Cook • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. Anywhere where humans write can be considered poetry.

02/28/2018
Avatar for Anderson Martin
Anderson Martin • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it explains the emotions of that person

03/01/2018
Avatar for tristin damico
tristin damico • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they follow some of the same guidelines as poery

03/01/2018
Avatar for Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because it all depends on how the person speaks their mind.

03/01/2018
Avatar for Christian Midence
Christian Midence • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because they are all unique and have a hidden message

03/01/2018
Avatar for Amelie Bantjes
Amelie Bantjes • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes,they act so much like poems, I think that a song or a tweet can be a poem, but some songs or tweets can't be poems so it is as if there are two opposite things!

03/12/2018
Avatar for Amelie Bantjes
Amelie Bantjes • LESSON IN PROGRESS

you are a grate person Ibn Rivera

03/12/2018 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Ibn Rivera Show the comment
Avatar for brianna shelton
brianna shelton • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes because sometimes they share characteristics of poetry and have a similar structure, also poetry can be very free and it doesn't have many limits.

03/29/2018
Avatar for JARED RITMAN
JARED RITMAN • COMPLETED LESSON

I think the amazing thing about poetry is that it is so free form that it can be found in many different mediums of entertainment or speech.

04/17/2018
Avatar for A. M.
A. M. • COMPLETED LESSON

I'm not sure whether they could be considered poems or not. However, there are some art forms that do evoke a poetic nature.

04/17/2018
Avatar for May Apale
May Apale • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, because a poem may or may not have a specific number of lines or pattern but still it can be labeled according to its form, like it expresses strong thought and feelings (lyric poetry), tells a story (narrative poem) and describes the world (descriptive poem)

04/23/2018
Avatar for Chris Enix
Chris Enix • COMPLETED LESSON

My Class says that yes, all CAN be poems, but they have to show Emotion and musical quality.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Chris Enix
Chris Enix • COMPLETED LESSON

My class says that they have to involve feelings and musical language but not all are poems.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Benjamin lee
Benjamin lee • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Song lyrics, speeches and tweets can be considered as poems since it has same characteristic as poem but just in different forms. As the time changes, the form of poem will be more flexible and various.

06/06/2018
Avatar for kimberly pahanel
kimberly pahanel • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

06/06/2018
Avatar for Harrison Chen
Harrison Chen • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, a poem cannot be defined as just words placed neatly with rhyme and techniques, a poem should have the reader think, whether they are deep or merely point towards humor, so while not all texts like song lyrics, speeches or tweets are definitely poems, some can be defined as a poetry, after all it depends on how people perceive these things individually.

06/06/2018
Avatar for chloe hardjono
chloe hardjono • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I personally think any form of literature could be turned into a poem.

06/06/2018 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Phi Dan Show the comment
Avatar for Abhishek Tarafdar
Abhishek Tarafdar • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I think one could consider any of these (with the exception of tweets, because the content of the tweet is what may be poetic, not the actual act of tweeting itself) as forms of poetry, especially song lyrics, given that both songs and speeches can express something about the human condition or the nature of the world around, something meaningful. Songs are even condensed literature and are written to sound rhythmic, both common characteristics of poetry. Speeches can be a reflection of society and human nature, which are once again characteristics of poetry. In short, we shouldn't dismiss songs and speeches just because they are technically a different medium, as they share many common elements with poetry and can at times be just as effective an exploration of abstract concepts and ideas.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Stacey Curtis
Stacey Curtis • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, as most songs express feelings, emotions and powerful veiws through their music.

06/06/2018
Avatar for yan-yue leung
yan-yue leung • COMPLETED LESSON

Song lyrics, speeches and even tweets are considered as poems. A poem is a 'piece of writing in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by particular attention to diction (sometimes involving rhyme), rhythm, and imagery' All these texts share these characteristics with poetry, hence why song lyrics, speeches and tweets are considered as poems.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Aya Iwabuchi
Aya Iwabuchi • LESSON IN PROGRESS

=D

06/06/2018
Avatar for Etienne de la Croix
Etienne de la Croix • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes they can be considered poems as most forms of songs and speeches and even tweets are made to portray a message that relates to the writer themself.

06/06/2018
Avatar for leo jiang2
leo jiang2 • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, these can be considered poems as they convey meaning, thoughts and feelings.

06/06/2018
Avatar for 21 Savage
21 Savage • COMPLETED LESSON

yeah, why not. Cuz, I could look at myslef and think of a poem on the spot ( more like a rap ). Cause like, i dont even know to be honest, some days i might be sad, some maybe happy or mad ... it depends. To be honest i think that song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets can share characteristics with poetry.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Maham Hussain
Maham Hussain • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes a song lyrics, tweets and speeches can share characteristics and are considered as poems. It is said in the video there are many ways to express a poem. Songs, speeches and tweets are all ways to convey an individual's opinion.

06/06/2018
Avatar for Surachet Thammatorn
Surachet Thammatorn • COMPLETED LESSON

everything including human's deed is poetry, also things mentioned above, which describes what the poet had given to receiver.

08/14/2018
Avatar for Jasmin TheHuman
Jasmin TheHuman • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, they can be considered poems. I could consider eating a slice of bread and then telling you abut it a poem.

08/17/2018
Avatar for Abigail Luce
Abigail Luce • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, even though its not in poetry form it can still hold a message and give you something to learn just like poetry

08/17/2018
Avatar for Diego Lopez
Diego Lopez • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it means something.(This may be a wrong answer)

08/17/2018
Avatar for Evan Gulden
Evan Gulden • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes. If they have poetic elements, they can be classified as a poem. You can express or recite a poem in a song, speech or tweet.

03/21/2019
Avatar for Tiyasha Chandra
Tiyasha Chandra • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, these things can be considered poetry since they share the same characteristics. Prose can't be poetry, but poetry can come in many other forms in many different places. If something is written like a poem, it is meant to be a poem.

03/21/2019
Avatar for Audrey Gotham
Audrey Gotham • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I do think that these would be considered poems, but it depends on what the song/tweet/speech is about. There are many forms of poetry, so each of these could fit somewhere in the many types of poetry.

03/21/2019
Avatar for Max Edwards
Max Edwards • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes You can consider them poems. If you really want to dig deep a poem has no exact format. It is a free flow that has no rules no barriers just an open format of writing to express yourself. These other forms of writing can be mixed in with poems. Poems are used in every type of writing and used infinitely.

03/21/2019
Avatar for fey tan
fey tan • COMPLETED LESSON

Sure, because there might be a rhyme that’s the person wrote.

03/25/2019
Avatar for Karl Shiu
Karl Shiu • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. It's about the content and not the context.

03/25/2019
Avatar for Sean Le e
Sean Le e • COMPLETED LESSON

Why not

03/25/2019
Avatar for Renaldo Yang
Renaldo Yang • COMPLETED LESSON

It depended, there is many kinds of poems, maybe it could fit one kind of poem

03/25/2019
Avatar for stephen babalola
stephen babalola • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

03/25/2019
Avatar for Asker Temirbayev
Asker Temirbayev • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes why not ?

03/25/2019
Avatar for Jonathan Batres
Jonathan Batres • COMPLETED LESSON

I dropped my toast under the couch and now I can't find it.

04/17/2019
Avatar for Rylee Richardson
Rylee Richardson • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because song lyrics, speeches, and tweets can have deep imagery in it's roots, along with emotional ties from the creator.

04/25/2019
Avatar for jenna duncan
jenna duncan • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, because they are what they say and if they have a title for it.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Afton Hopkins
Afton Hopkins • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes they can be considered poems, because it expresses their feelings.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Georgia Mayfield
Georgia Mayfield • COMPLETED LESSON

I think some of them can but not all can as I was reading through them I noticed that some of them were just one worded answers and that the didn't make a whole lot of sence.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Georgia Mayfield
Georgia Mayfield • COMPLETED LESSON

yellow

04/25/2019 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Lisa Addy Show the comment
Avatar for Georgia Mayfield
Georgia Mayfield • COMPLETED LESSON

Holy
No measure knows your worth
Face down
Where mercy finds me first

04/25/2019
Avatar for Dalton Chaffin
Dalton Chaffin • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because they share characteristics of poetry and sound like it as well.

04/25/2019
Avatar for christian Burrus
christian Burrus • COMPLETED LESSON

Absolutely!

04/25/2019
Avatar for christian Burrus
christian Burrus • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

04/25/2019
Avatar for Isabelle Berube
Isabelle Berube • COMPLETED LESSON

Poetry can be expressed in all forms no matter the platform on which it is displayed. Anything can be a poem no matter where it is found.

04/25/2019
Avatar for paige johnson
paige johnson • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it depends on what the person wants it to be seen ***

04/25/2019
Avatar for laryn scott
laryn scott • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because the way that they flow there rhythm and the images the give us are like poems.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Landen Simpson
Landen Simpson • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

04/25/2019
Avatar for Kennedy B
Kennedy B • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because they give off emotion and rhyme and hae poetic characteristics.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Lily Wilson
Lily Wilson • COMPLETED LESSON

These can be considered poems because they include rhyming, feelings, and vivid pictures.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Ainsley Lenahan
Ainsley Lenahan • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because the lyric, speech, tweet, etc., could be in a form of repetition, such as rhyming.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Morgan Nichols
Morgan Nichols • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, for it still might include imagery, intense feeling, rhyme, rhythm, and some line breaks.

04/25/2019
Avatar for kate bullard
kate bullard • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, it doesn't matter how it is displayed, they can all include rhymes, rhythm, metaphors, feelings, etc. It can still be considered a poem.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Brynn Burton
Brynn Burton • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because they may have poetic elements and characteristics that read and sound exactly like a poem, they might also be written in the form of a poem.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Isabelle Berube
Isabelle Berube • COMPLETED LESSON

Despite the longevity of the poem, the meaning cannot be changed, so a twitter poem is just as good as one in a textbook.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Heavenlee Fraga
Heavenlee Fraga • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it has all of the characteristics.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Zada Brooks
Zada Brooks • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe that song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets can be considered poetry. This is because the three things mentioned can all have a sort of rhyme or rhythm to them if written in a certain way. They also can all convey emotions in a literary form.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Natalie Alsup
Natalie Alsup • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe yes because they can be filled with emotion and repetition.

04/25/2019
Avatar for abby christensen
abby christensen • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, they are language with deeper meanings and are made by humans, just because it is on the internet does not mean it can't be poetic or a piece of poetry.

04/25/2019
Avatar for sheena scott
sheena scott • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because they all can be a form of expression, and tell a story

04/25/2019
Avatar for quenton borden
quenton borden • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, they can keep a rhythmic or repetitive way of speaking. They can flow well.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Felix Airhart
Felix Airhart • COMPLETED LESSON

I think that they can be considered poems because they have all the characteristics of poems, though they have different forms.

04/25/2019
Avatar for Alicia McPherson
Alicia McPherson • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, any type of words or platforms to post something can always have characteristics of poetry, no matter where its being said.

04/26/2019
Avatar for Jillian Debets
Jillian Debets • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes. Anything that is written with a rhythm and moves people emotionally I would consider poetry.

06/03/2019
Avatar for Gabriela Ochoa
Gabriela Ochoa • LESSON IN PROGRESS

For tweets, it's debatable depending on the context of it but for song lyrics and speeches I think yes; think about it song lyrics are coming from songwriters talking about a specific topic whether it's about love and heartbreak, partying, empowerment, or has a deep meaning in the song and especially in genres like hip-hop/rap and pop a lot of artists will use similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, imagery, rhyme, and yes even onomatopoeia as a way to express their feelings towards someone or something. As for speeches it's basically same thing because the speakers are using those kinds of literary devices too to get their message across about a specific topic whether it's lighthearted or serious.

07/04/2019
Avatar for Titan Long
Titan Long • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I think all of those can be poems. Really you can make a poem on anything and consider it a poem.

09/26/2019
Avatar for Sophia Castillo
Sophia Castillo • COMPLETED LESSON

Music song lyrics, speeches, and tweets can share characteristics with poetry and pass as poetry in that they can incorporate emotional elements, a sense of rhythm and can be formatted in different manners to impression the listener/reader intentionally in a different way.

10/09/2019
Avatar for Lexi Rebholz
Lexi Rebholz • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, A large number of songs come from poetic backgrounds. Mainly more choral and folk songs come from past poems and writing that a composer felt strongly about and arranged music to go along with that said poem. For example, a choir piece we are doing is called " Earth Song" this song was derived from a poem with blocked phrasing.

10/09/2019
Avatar for Haily Majano
Haily Majano • COMPLETED LESSON

y

11/19/2019
Avatar for Haily Majano
Haily Majano • COMPLETED LESSON

who are you ppl

11/19/2019 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Ibn Rivera Show the comment
Avatar for Jessy Raygoza
Jessy Raygoza • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. It does not matter how it looks, it matters what it says. Like for example if someone tries to take a poem and tweet it, it is no different. Those are the reasons why.

11/19/2019
Avatar for Maisara Syed
Maisara Syed • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Poems have certain characteristics that are not used in all song lyrics, speeches and tweets. These characteristics are the emphasis of language's musical qualities ( auditory imagery), through rhyme, rhythm and meter. Poems also used condensed language (making the message short and concise- which is what enables poems to be interpreted differently by everyone), and poems often feature intense feelings. These 3 recognisable characteristics are seldom included in song lyrics, speeches and tweets. Some of these may be poems, but not all.

11/22/2019
Avatar for Star Butler
Star Butler • COMPLETED LESSON

They could be considered as poems but it would be the point of view of the person reading it. I think that because of the fact that people don't believe that are poems but they are.

03/12/2020
Avatar for Elizabeth Waite
Elizabeth Waite • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes! Poetry is defined as "literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm" If any of the above give you strong feelings or visuals, then they should be considered poetry.

03/16/2020
Avatar for Nicolas Flores
Nicolas Flores • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because for example, important speeches may use common poetic techniques. Many speeches give a very impactful image, a characteristic most poems share. The best speeches are full of poetry, using rhythm and repetition, intensifying the effect and meaning you want to give. They deliver their ideas poetically by using chiasma for example. Moreover lyrics from many song writers hold up without the need of music and resemble a lot to a poem. In addition, poetry has no defined form because there are many different poems out there, like prose poems or l(a from E.E. Cummings or Apfel from Reinhard Döhl, which are extremely different. Meaning poetry should be seen more as a concept instead of a form. Clearly, songs, speeches and the contents of tweets could very easily be categorized as poems, because they have the very concept inside them. And even though poets like Billy Collings or Walt Whitman think there's a form needed to define poems, many singers like Bob Dylan may argue otherwise

03/16/2020
Avatar for Denali LeBlanc
Denali LeBlanc • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. Poetry is subjective.

03/16/2020
Avatar for Zoey Ellis
Zoey Ellis • COMPLETED LESSON

They share characteristics with poetry, so, theoretically, yes, they can be considered poems. This is because if, for example, let's say two people have (mostly) the same characteristics; this means that they could technically be the same person. I have a couple friends who say they are the same person, because they are so similar.
It can be the same scenario with these things (song lyrics, speeches, tweets, etc). They have similar characteristics, so why can't they be considered the same thing?
And, like Denali said, poetry is subjective. But that doesn't mean that it is subjective to just one type of poetry. Um, let's see... something that shares characteristics with something else could theoretically be considered the same thing, so why not with a type of literature?
Answer THAT question, people.
Literature is sort of what shapes our lives as we know it, so if two types of it (no matter how different they are) have similar characteristics, then they can be considered the same.

03/16/2020
Avatar for William Hyndman
William Hyndman • COMPLETED LESSON

Absolutely! The creators and makers and all of the characteristics that make poetry a creative expression of explaining the human and machine thoughts. Song lyrics, speeches and tweets are three faces

03/17/2020
Avatar for Jack Weil
Jack Weil • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, because they are still expressing emotion through words and rhythm.

03/18/2020
Avatar for blake dunn
blake dunn • LESSON IN PROGRESS

agreed intensly

03/23/2020
Avatar for Abenezer Assegid
Abenezer Assegid • COMPLETED LESSON

These speeches, song lyrics and even tweets might have the same characteristics but that doesn't make them poem they only share language technique and rhythm which every writing should have.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Cameron Mock
Cameron Mock • COMPLETED LESSON

I think if the song, speech, or tweet has the characteristics of a poem then yea it can be a poem.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Madison Epps
Madison Epps • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes because they express feeling like the video says.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jordan Everett
Jordan Everett • COMPLETED LESSON

Of course! They are rhythmic and full of feelings, no matter how long or short, the way you read them is using expression and communicating your feelings.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Samiya Bullock
Samiya Bullock • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I believe that they could be considered as poems because everything around you are poems.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Ariyana Farves
Ariyana Farves • COMPLETED LESSON

I think that some songs can classify as poems, but not all and I don't consider a speech a poem. To me a poem is something written that has a deeper meaning than what the speaker is actually saying. Most speeches, song lyrics, and tweets say exactly how the person feels in that moment. There is no deeper meaning and that usually is in poetry. So in my opinion I wouldn't consider those things a poem because they don't get into the deeper meaning of poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Anayah Butler
Anayah Butler • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, song lyrics and speeches can be considered poems. As for tweets It mainly depends on the word choice and the amount of creativity the writer uses

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jason Little
Jason Little • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, if they apply the same rules in poetry for the most part, I consider them as poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jenna Warnock
Jenna Warnock • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because all three express meaning indirectly by either using at least one of the characteristics of poetry. Lyrics heavily use metaphors to express their message. Speeches are very ambiguous and can use any characteristic of poetry and tweets use condensed language in order to express their message since you can only use a certain number of characters.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Fernando Piquet Padin
Fernando Piquet Padin • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes as they have the same elements and affects that a standard poem would

03/24/2020
Avatar for Tristan Southerland
Tristan Southerland • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because life itself can have so many characteristics of poetry, and we can also see that words themselves can root from Shakespeare and his influence in our lives because of poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Timothy DeNicola
Timothy DeNicola • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

03/24/2020
Avatar for Aleah Hines
Aleah Hines • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because poems are very similar to those things

03/24/2020
Avatar for Ella Little
Ella Little • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, anything with the fit characteristics of poetry can be considered poetry even if it is not written in an official poetic way.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Brooklynn LaMothe
Brooklynn LaMothe • COMPLETED LESSON

Of course. Although digital, verbal, or made for a political reason, these all can take on literary aspects and present just as powerful images and rhythmic messages as traditional poems. Whether the distress of Romanian orphans in WWII is presented through a vivid physical poem or a moving, emotional speech calling on international action, it's still presented poetically, powerfully, and rhythmically.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jay Nonya
Jay Nonya • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes I do believe that song lyrics and speeches can be poetry, because they can invoke powerful feelings and use metaphors to express different meanings. Tweets can be used to do the same, so I don't see why they can't be considered poetry as well.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Abigail Marshall
Abigail Marshall • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jeffery Atitsogbui
Jeffery Atitsogbui • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, Poetry as said comes with many different characteristics, yet if something meets the generalize characteristics, than yes it can be considered a poem. Does it use the natural thyme of words, does it create vivid images and so on. We cannot put a specific classification on poetry, yet we can put towards characteristics that make it more identifiable.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jada-Marie Wright
Jada-Marie Wright • COMPLETED LESSON

Song lyrics, speeches and tweets should be considered poems because they emphasize languages musical qualities, use condensed language and often feature intense feelings and emotions, all the characteristics that make a poem a poem, as mentioned in the video. I believe that especially song lyrics should be considered poetry. Song lyrics are poems that haven't been put to music yet. Rap itself stands for rhythm and poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Evalise Guerrier
Evalise Guerrier • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes they can be considered poems because the characteristics being present are what make a poem a poem. They do not have to be found in a specific place or written by a specific person to be a poem.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jadyn Butcher
Jadyn Butcher • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I believe that song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets could be considered poems because they're all considered creative expressions of human life and experiences. They are all expressing feelings and emotions.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Versace Prew
Versace Prew • COMPLETED LESSON

I say yes because they all can have the same influence and power with the main difference I see being the length in the given poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Kevin Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, a poem is supposed to make the reader feel some type of way and the same things happen when you listen to song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Madison Bellows
Madison Bellows • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, song lyrics, speeches, and tweets should be considered poetry. They should be considered poetry because they share very important characteristics with poetry. Like mentioned in the video, poetry can evoke strong feelings and emotions, song lyrics, speeches, and tweets can also evoke these things in their audience. They can also have multiple meanings and can contain condensed language like poetry.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Maya Singleton
Maya Singleton • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, poetry is really anything you believe it to be

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jordan Peterkin
Jordan Peterkin • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes these forms of literature are all poems, because by technically any thing that is written can poetry since their is no limit to what poetry can be.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Wyatt Fogel
Wyatt Fogel • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe these items can be considered poems. Logically, just because something is not in writing and is sometimes placed under categories that are usually looked upon in a casual sense, does not mean it cannot be considered poetry, so long as actual thought is put into them. Any tweet can be on the grounds of poetry with enough effort. I mean... look at Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Asiah Graham
Asiah Graham • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I personally believe that anything with some sort or rhythm or pattern and is a poem. All of those things can be done in this sort of manner.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Serenity Korotasz
Serenity Korotasz • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I believe that these various forms of word expression can be considered poems because they (can) express emotion, imagery, and rhythm - all of which is evident in what makes a poem a poem.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Madison Gaytan
Madison Gaytan • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they are very similar to poems.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Shea Oliver
Shea Oliver • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. It's hard to say what is and isn't a poem. The person writing the poem certainly doesn't have to be a poet, or even intend for it to be a poem. I think that they just need to have characteristics that make it one, such as imagery.

03/24/2020
Avatar for Jayda Gignac
Jayda Gignac • COMPLETED LESSON

I think they can become speeches because song lyrics can rhyme and have feelings in them. As well as tweets and speeches you speak how you feel.

03/25/2020
Avatar for Makala McNeill
Makala McNeill • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, because i’m the video the man explains how they are considered poems

03/25/2020
Avatar for Naomi Taylor
Naomi Taylor • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes they can be considered as poems. They are still expressing themselves. It might be odd, but they're use of words are considered poetry.

03/25/2020
Avatar for Marianna Medina
Marianna Medina • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. Poetry is a very lenient art form. As long as there is feeling behind the words said, it's poetry!

03/25/2020
Avatar for Paris Black
Paris Black • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, those can be considered poems, poetry is a art and can be expressed in many forms other than being written on paper.

03/26/2020
Avatar for Sydney Lees
Sydney Lees • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because poems can be anyway of experssing how you feel or even what you are thinking.

03/26/2020
Avatar for Matthew Quijano
Matthew Quijano • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because even though their structure may not be identical, they still can convey the same thoughts and emotions associated with poetry.

03/26/2020
Avatar for Katie Zavala-Aguilar
Katie Zavala-Aguilar • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it’s has characteristics of a poem.

03/26/2020
Avatar for Brody Braswell
Brody Braswell • COMPLETED LESSON

sort of

03/27/2020
Avatar for lucy mcdonald
lucy mcdonald • COMPLETED LESSON

I think anything can be a poem, because it can fall under the characteristics of a type of poem.

03/30/2020
Avatar for Eddie McNeill
Eddie McNeill • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, Poetry can exist anywhere no matter the format.

03/30/2020
Avatar for Adriana Fink-Oduardo
Adriana Fink-Oduardo • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because the visual is going with the description / words

03/31/2020
Avatar for Alex Vasquez
Alex Vasquez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

04/01/2020
Avatar for Alex Vasquez
Alex Vasquez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

oof

04/01/2020 • 
IN RESPONSE TO Heather Watford Show the comment
Avatar for Alice Agostini
Alice Agostini • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, in addition to the fact that they share the same characteristics they are also a way, a vehicle, to express our feelings and our emotions. furthermore we cannot consider just a type of poetry because everyone has to be confident in what they like and they have to feel free to express their self in a form that they like, and that includes lyrics, speeches and even tweets.

04/06/2020
Avatar for Drew Lutz
Drew Lutz • COMPLETED LESSON

They could if they have the characteristics because some songs, speeches and tweets do not have the characteristics of a poem.

04/06/2020
Avatar for Sarah Johnston
Sarah Johnston • COMPLETED LESSON

These can be considered poetry in many different ways

04/06/2020
Avatar for Vicky Martinez
Vicky Martinez • COMPLETED LESSON

Possibly if the tweet, song or speeches have all the characteristics of a poem.

04/17/2020 • 
IN RESPONSE TO  Show the comment
Avatar for haydon fox
haydon fox • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes beacause all can paint a picuture to what the aurthor is trying to describe to the reader

04/18/2020
Avatar for conner jones
conner jones • COMPLETED LESSON

yes they can if they have good emotional content

04/21/2020
Avatar for Indya Smith
Indya Smith • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

04/21/2020
Avatar for conner jones
conner jones • COMPLETED LESSON

yes they can if they have good emotional content

04/22/2020
Avatar for Sehoon Park
Sehoon Park • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, i think the point of poetry is to express feelings and the mood and long as it does this it can be classfied as a poem

04/22/2020
Avatar for Sa'Mya Jones
Sa'Mya Jones • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because it can include line breaks, rhythm, rhyme and more.

04/23/2020
Avatar for megan king
megan king • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because a poem can be anything you want it to be.

04/25/2020
Avatar for Johana Fuentespereira
Johana Fuentespereira • COMPLETED LESSON

yes i think they can because if what they are saying matches he description of a poem it can be a poem

04/27/2020
Avatar for Ernest Campbell
Ernest Campbell • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes they can because they can use metaphors to establish a definition, they could emphasize languages using rhyme and rhythme. A speech could use condensed language to go a long with their speech. All in all song lyrics, speechesand tweets can share chracteristics with poetry.

04/28/2020
Avatar for Natalie Smith
Natalie Smith • COMPLETED LESSON

There is certainly crossover in all forms of communication. All language can have poetic elements. I like how Rita Dove described it: “Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.” So yes, if the lyric or speech or tweet possesses an economy of language that speaks to the reader's heart.

05/04/2020
Avatar for Summer Terpstra
Summer Terpstra • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, Some if it is really heartfelt, it does not matter if others believe it is not poetry. If you see inspiration in it and it gives you great emotion then for you it is clearly poetry.

05/06/2020
Avatar for Sierra  Brown
Sierra Brown  • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, they can. Due to the characteristics of poetry, songs lyrics, speeches and tweets may fit into the genre. With song lyrics, the rhythm of each line creates a small poem within the song. And with speeches, the use of pros is also a characteristic of poetry. They can even be placed into the category of a free-verse poem. Now, when it comes to tweets, the use of condensed wording and line spacing creates a somewhat powerful feel to the tweet.

05/13/2020
Avatar for Billy Bellino
Billy Bellino • COMPLETED LESSON

While song lyrics, speeches, and tweets can be viewed as poetic, given they have literary devices such as rhyme, rhythm, condensed language, or imagery, they are not necessarily poems. However, if these forms of writing are created with the soul purpose of resonating emotionally with the reader, then they could definitely be considered poems.

05/22/2020
Avatar for Jalen Lowe
Jalen Lowe • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because anything that pictures a story with words can be a poem

05/22/2020
Avatar for Emma Berube
Emma Berube • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they can have poetic aspects as well

06/08/2020
Avatar for Timberly Carlan
Timberly Carlan • COMPLETED LESSON

Lyrics, speeches, and tweets can be considered poems. This is because they can evoke emotion from the audience. Most songs have a rhyme they follow. - Carlan.

08/20/2020
Avatar for Julliana Alcaraz Paramo
Julliana Alcaraz Paramo • COMPLETED LESSON

Julliana Alcaraz- Yes, because the speakers emphasize their writing in a way that readers relate to as a poem. For example, Muhammad Ali, someone who wasn't even a writer was able to give an audience a speech and they were able to compare it to the characteristics of a poem. Even much so that they encouraged him to write another and although it was a very short one the audience was convinced due to its powerful meaning. Another example is that when the musical part of a song is removed and just read aloud it gives the reader the sense of a poem. the motivation and thought behind the writers feeling combined with the imagery and metaphors of the writing is what gives the characteristics of a poem. Therefore if writer/speaker is ever emotionally involved with its writing it has a good chance of being considered a poem.

08/20/2020
Avatar for Lane Hopper
Lane Hopper • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, because if poetic traits are shown in any of these it could be considered a poem.

08/24/2020
Avatar for Kylie Hopper
Kylie Hopper • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I think these can be considered poems. Songs, speeches, etc. can still be poems no matter what it is.

08/24/2020
Avatar for Jacy Ayers
Jacy Ayers • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because they rhyme and can have different meanings.

08/25/2020
Avatar for Mikayla Cooper
Mikayla Cooper • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because poetry can be anything.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Andy groberg
Andy groberg • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because anything with 5 or more lines can be pomes.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Sheridan Bradford
Sheridan Bradford • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, because if you put it into poetry form it can become a poem.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Xion McGhee
Xion McGhee • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

08/31/2020
Avatar for kara williams
kara williams • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, I think they could!

08/31/2020
Avatar for Azariah Rivers
Azariah Rivers • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because they have some of the characteristics to be a poem just need the layout

08/31/2020
Avatar for Azariah Rivers
Azariah Rivers • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

08/31/2020
Avatar for Azariah Rivers
Azariah Rivers • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because they are expressing there feelings and emotions through the music

08/31/2020
Avatar for Haley Janisch
Haley Janisch • LESSON IN PROGRESS

No, because they're not poems.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Jasmine Jones
Jasmine Jones • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because it has so many characteristics like poetry and because their still expressing emotions and feelings through what their saying.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Benjamin Spichiger
Benjamin Spichiger • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes I think that they can be considered poems. They often use common techniques that are used to write different kinds of poems.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Dazjiariah Dickson
Dazjiariah Dickson • COMPLETED LESSON

yes , Because these are all characteristics / forms of poetry .

08/31/2020
Avatar for McKenzie Pope
McKenzie Pope • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because it expresses something that the creator is trying to put out there for others to relate too.

08/31/2020
Avatar for kevin figueroa
kevin figueroa • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, Because poetry is a way people express themselves and express whats going on. When people tweet or make lyrics, they are expressing the way they feel to other people .

08/31/2020
Avatar for Kira Cheney
Kira Cheney • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes because music is a poem with a beat behind it, tweets are what you are feeling at the moment , and speeches are poems

08/31/2020
Avatar for Tavaris Keyes
Tavaris Keyes • COMPLETED LESSON

Yea , because they use fugitive language and rhyme to get there point off

08/31/2020
Avatar for Om Patel
Om Patel • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes because the literacy device used in the lyrics match with poems.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Sariyah Hill
Sariyah Hill • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

08/31/2020
Avatar for Azaria Robertson
Azaria Robertson • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, because in a song they may say something that has something to do with them, and we will not know. And yes they can be considered poems because poems basically express feelings and emotions.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Jeremiah Lawson
Jeremiah Lawson • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes cause they come from the heart

08/31/2020
Avatar for Coty Draper
Coty Draper • LESSON IN PROGRESS

They can because poetry can be used in some many forms plus some tweets use poetry techniques.

08/31/2020
Avatar for Ra'shown Sweetenburg
Ra'shown Sweetenburg • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, i think it can still be considered poetry because not only your writing about something but your also putting thought and reasoning into what your writing about. song lyrics are like poetry because when u sing the song it has a flow and rhythm.

08/31/2020
Avatar for chyenne wilson
chyenne wilson • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they have elements of a poem.

09/01/2020
Avatar for Jaylen Thomas
Jaylen Thomas • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because it uses rhymes and emotions to emphasize how the writer think and feel.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Makayla LANG
Makayla LANG • COMPLETED LESSON

yes, becuase abything can be poertry

09/08/2020
Avatar for Zali Merrett-Turner
Zali Merrett-Turner • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because they are understanding certain things. You can also express through music

09/08/2020
Avatar for Natasha LOVELL
Natasha LOVELL • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes because they can rhyme with or without music, the tweet could be considered a poem because it can put a specific image in your head and with speech it can rhyme and have emotions as well as putting an image in your head.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Taylan COURTENAY-RALPH
Taylan COURTENAY-RALPH • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes because characteristics of speeches and lyrics and tweets can be similar to the way people write poems. This is because poetry is a way someone expresses themselves.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Jasmine Petkowski
Jasmine Petkowski • COMPLETED LESSON

Not in every form, as in not everything can be poetry. But within the right circumstances, yes definitely.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Zachary IRELAND
Zachary IRELAND • LESSON IN PROGRESS

poetry can come in different characteristics

09/08/2020
Avatar for Shane Burckett
Shane Burckett • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes because song lyrics are pretty much poems as they both are used to express a person's emotions through words.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Tiana Keenan
Tiana Keenan • COMPLETED LESSON

While they share the same characteristics as poetry not everything can be considered poetry due to the different way the layout is presented.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Jenaya ATKINS TAVERNER
Jenaya ATKINS TAVERNER • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, I believe that anything can be considered poetry. Because it uses emotion to express how the writer thinks and feels.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Georgia Chipperfield
Georgia Chipperfield • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, i think any type of speech or writing can be considered a poem or poetry. Depending on the way you express it, explain or produce the text with emotion and feeling it can all be considered as a poem.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Dyna VOEUNG
Dyna VOEUNG • LESSON IN PROGRESS

All of these can be considered poetic. Song lyrics are more poetic since the writer can manipulate the structure and add a rythmic tone to it.

09/08/2020
Avatar for Corrina Jensen
Corrina Jensen • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because as long as they have the characteristics of a poem they can be considered a poem!

09/10/2020
Avatar for ILEIGH APOLINAR
ILEIGH APOLINAR • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes

09/29/2020
Avatar for francesco genero
francesco genero • COMPLETED LESSON

In my opinion song lirics,speeches and tweets are considerated poems because they contain a musically rhythm, they show also intense emotions and sometimes they have a precise metric scheme.

10/07/2020
Avatar for McKenna Gwynn
McKenna Gwynn • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes because poetry can come from anywhere. As long as it fits into the characteristics of a poem, it doesn't matter where it was written or said.

11/08/2020
Avatar for Chloe Gordon
Chloe Gordon • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because what makes poetry so amazing is the feelings that are expressed through the speech and the creative way figurative language is used in it. And song lyrics, speeches, and tweets contain all these things.

11/09/2020
Avatar for Luna Acevedo-Leal
Luna Acevedo-Leal • COMPLETED LESSON

yes because are words to express something too that make a poem that i think

11/09/2020
Avatar for Yohane Poku
Yohane Poku • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, because if those things can create and its unique( like the story said) story section then it could be a poem.

11/09/2020
Avatar for Angel Brenson
Angel Brenson • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes

11/11/2020
Avatar for STU-Christian Bias-Saunders
STU-Christian Bias-Saunders • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe that these can all be considered poetry because it can share the same characteristics and have the same depth.

01/07/2021
Avatar for Jackson Nelson
Jackson Nelson • COMPLETED LESSON

yes

01/13/2021
Avatar for Oscar Gomez Perez
Oscar Gomez Perez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

poems can be characteristic of song, speeches and even tweets because the language can flow like musical patterns they can also be something you can relate or attach to your reality

01/13/2021
Avatar for Izabel Salihov
Izabel Salihov • COMPLETED LESSON

I think that some songs, tweets and poems can be called poetry if they share characteristics of the poetry. Because they also express the intense feeling of the poem and make a powerful statement.

02/04/2021
Avatar for Katy webb
Katy webb • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes. They may have the different characteristics of poems.

03/17/2021
Avatar for Sofia Paez Rodriguez
Sofia Paez Rodriguez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

To my mind the lyrics of the songs, the speeches and even the tweets can share characteristics with poetry, clearly there is a blurred line between these that makes them different but for example the poems emphasize the musical qualities of the language through the rhyme or rhythm, like songs, poems use a condensed language, like tweets that seek to express themselves in the smallest possible space and poems can be formatted as paragraphs, like speeches, all of them tend to present intense feelings and I think there is more than one way to create a poem, because if the author finds a reason to write then his writing must mean something, however I truly believe that a poem is a poem and although characteristics are shared, Twitter is only a communication platform, and the songs involve different things than poems, and speeches have another functionality, that sometimes these can be interpreted as poems is something else, but they cannot be considered as a poem.

03/18/2021
Avatar for Alejandra Pastrana
Alejandra Pastrana • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I truly believe that yes, some songs, speeches, even tweets can share characteristics with poetry because because many of these pieces express a feeling, emotion or a story, they also have that deep message that characterizes the poem and finally because many of them are written with an aesthetic language, use literary figures and have rhyme.

03/18/2021
Avatar for PAULA PULIDO
PAULA PULIDO • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I hold on the opinion that we have an outdated concept of what a poem is. We keep the idea of the traditional poem, the one with rhyme, complex vocabulary, verses and stanzas but almost anything can be a poem, songs, speeches, status updates on social media and even typical conversations. Based on this point of view then what makes something a poem? To my mind, is any kind of manifestation where the author is feeling an extremely intense emotion that is not able to be described in only one word, instead has the need of using the beauty of poetry and language to at least get a clue about it. It may happen that the reader has an impression about the work where there are no big emotions on it but it does not really matter because another characteristic of this artistic expression is that the authors are not looking for any kind of approval, just the possibility to share their opinions and deepest thoughts.

03/18/2021
Avatar for Alejandro Ceballos Agudelo
Alejandro Ceballos Agudelo • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I think that all this kind of things can be considered poetry. While poetry is commonly associated with deep meaning messages containing rhymes and similes, In my opinion certain song lyrics, speeches, and even tweets can be considered poetry if they have any sense

03/19/2021
Avatar for Rodrigo Garcia Aguirre
Rodrigo Garcia Aguirre • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes for me lyrics, speeches or even tweets can share characteristics with poetry because all these expression methods are make for express a feeling or a history, also talking about the structure they share rhythms and rhymes, and these are compositions that derive from the lyric.

03/19/2021
Avatar for Maria Jose  Diaz Pisciotti
Maria Jose Diaz Pisciotti • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I would say that the poems and the song lyrics are kinda the same, both want to transmit emotions but maybe the meaning of the poems are deeper than the song lyrics. The poem has the rhythm and the song lyrics the melody.

03/19/2021
Avatar for Esteban Naranjo Gil
Esteban Naranjo Gil • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Sometimes poetry could be onsideradors because these can demonstrate in addition to a feeling a rhythm that expresses something that is happening at that moment or a situation.

03/19/2021
Avatar for Isabella Mendez
Isabella Mendez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

To my opinion the poetry can be expressed in all of those, they can be considered poems and they already share characteristics, all include rhyming, express intense feelings and require imagery to narrate something, and the meaning of what a poem is cannot be that easy must have the deep meaning and an esthetical language and follow some rules of language

03/19/2021
Avatar for Mar¡a Carolina Clavijo Ospina
Mar¡a Carolina Clavijo Ospina • LESSON IN PROGRESS

In these cases, I truly believe that both the lyrics, speeches and tweets take as a reference to the poems to organize their structure and leave a deep message on various topics. Their characteristics are usually very similar, due to what I already mentioned, but I could say that certain elements can be confused with those of a poem or they can also be confused with these three types of writing, but each one is different in structure. Poems can be considered when identifying and analyzing their deep message, which can be poetic, realistic or general.

03/21/2021
Avatar for jhon trujillo
jhon trujillo • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes, because if it make you something more especial more that a simple song is a poems

03/24/2021
Avatar for Diego Avila
Diego Avila  • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes, it would depend on the content but almost its a "totally yes".
In the 3 mentioned you could write with rhytm, rhymes and express feelings, in a tweet you could write a poem, a song lyric could have a poem in certain way.
Thats why they could be consider as poems, also because the types of poems there are your poem could be 2 phrases long.

03/25/2021
Avatar for Jessica  Barón
Jessica Barón • LESSON IN PROGRESS

In my opinion they share characteristics, and of course they can be poems to! the way in which they could be presented does not affect the deepest meaning or the grammar, the poems are not just in books, additionally this new presentations open the door to new ways to see the literature and to share our thoughts

03/25/2021
Avatar for Roselyn Valerio
Roselyn Valerio • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes I think they can be considered poems , because I have seen poems made into songs.

03/29/2021
Avatar for Ciana Azevedo
Ciana Azevedo • COMPLETED LESSON

I think it would yes, because tweets and song lyrics can represent how a person is feeling in which sharing it to the world.

03/31/2021
Avatar for Samantha Bettencourt
Samantha Bettencourt • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, these can be considered poems because they are real feelings that are being expressed in the same form as poetry.

03/31/2021
Avatar for Alexander Nimiroski
Alexander Nimiroski • COMPLETED LESSON

If, they have the characteristics of poetry, then yes, that makes them a poem, even if they may have not been intended to be as such.

03/31/2021
Avatar for Austin Blackburn
Austin Blackburn • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, because poetry never ends no matter what your using anythings can be a poem.

04/12/2021
Avatar for Connor Hamilton (Student OVHS)
Connor Hamilton (Student OVHS) • COMPLETED LESSON

I think they can be because song lyrics and poetry are similar to the extent that some songs were created by putting poetry to music, and since they have a similar form, they are definitely poems.

04/15/2021
Avatar for Genesis Valadez Cortez (Student OVHS)
Genesis Valadez Cortez (Student OVHS) • COMPLETED LESSON

Yes, they are forms of expression.

04/16/2021
Avatar for Emma Bayley (Student OVHS)
Emma Bayley (Student OVHS) • COMPLETED LESSON

Yeah, I would think so. When reading song lyrics, there's a rhythm and meaning to those words. Also how the lyrics are, there in uncompleted lines, not really finishing a single sentence till later in the song. Speeches hold a powerful meaning behind them, like with MLK jr.'s speech. Tweets, songs, and speeches can create an image in your mind about what they are trying to say. Some songs what to paint an image where it's sad, like heartbreak, and others joyful like being in a relationship.

04/16/2021

Customize This Lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Melissa Kovacs
  • Director Richard O'Connor
  • Producer Richard O'Connor
  • Animator Taisiya Zaretskaya, Phil Powers
  • Illustrator Taisiya Zaretskaya
  • Composer Gareth Averill
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • See more

More from The Writer's Workshop