Familiarity in Poetry: Technique and Message in "Poetry Should Ride the Bus" Anonymous College

In Ruth Forman’s poem, “Poetry should ride the bus” (1993), we get a feeling of familiarity throughout the poem along with a sense of home, as well as nostalgia. Forman portrays a lifelong story throughout each line of the poem giving the reader the sense that they are growing up with the poem itself, while also taking a stance against traditional poetry by stating, “Poetry should…” at the beginning of each stanza. Forman portrays these feelings using intense imagery, repetition, and personification. Throughout this poem, she truly brings her thoughts to life through these devices in the most simple, and blatant way that honestly works to get the message glued into the reader’s mind leaving a memorable impact on all of us.

Forman gives us a feeling of hope and safety in lines three-four,” n hold your hand when you walk past the yellow crack house.” She gives us a childlike feeling but immediately contradicts it to something unpleasant. By doing this she is playing with the reader’s emotions in giving them a sense of hope and joy even during something so dark. She really made us all think back on simpler times in our lives using the evolution of growing up in each stanza. Forman appeals to all different types of people...