Meaning: This quote by Joanna Newsom, a talented musician and songwriter, provides insight into her early experiences with poetry and music. Newsom is known for her unique style and poetic lyricism in her music, and this quote sheds light on the influence of her high school education on her artistic development.

During high school, Newsom studied various poetical forms, which indicates that she had a formal education in literature and poetry. This exposure to different poetic forms likely provided her with a strong foundation in the technical aspects of writing, including meter, rhyme, and structure. By expressing her interest in the math involved in poetic forms, Newsom reveals her appreciation for the structural and rhythmic elements of poetry. This suggests that she approached poetry with a methodical and analytical mindset, seeking to understand the underlying patterns and mechanics of verse.

Furthermore, Newsom's reference to "the strange live break ups" in poetical forms hints at her fascination with the emotional and expressive power of poetry. The term "break ups" may allude to the way poetic forms can be fragmented or disrupted, conveying a sense of discord or tension within a piece of writing. This emphasis on the dynamic and unpredictable nature of poetic forms highlights Newsom's recognition of the ability of poetry to evoke intense and complex emotions, a quality that she likely sought to incorporate into her own musical compositions.

The quote culminates with Newsom expressing her reverence for a rhymed stanza, indicating that this particular form made a profound impression on her. The rhymed stanza, a poetic structure consisting of a series of lines with a consistent rhyme scheme, embodies a sense of balance and harmony through its rhythmic repetition. Newsom's admiration for this form suggests that she values the musicality and cohesion that rhyme can bring to a piece of writing. Additionally, her use of the word "respect" conveys a deep admiration for the craftsmanship and artistry involved in creating a rhymed stanza, reflecting her keen awareness of the skill required to master this form.

Overall, Joanna Newsom's reflections on her high school experience with poetical forms offer valuable insights into her creative mindset and artistic influences. Her appreciation for the mathematical and emotional dimensions of poetry, as well as her admiration for the rhymed stanza, illuminates the depth of her engagement with literary and musical expression. This quote serves as a testament to the lasting impact of formal education on an artist's development and the ways in which different forms of artistic expression can intersect and inform one another. Newsom's journey from studying poetical forms in high school to crafting her own evocative and lyrically rich music exemplifies the transformative power of artistic inspiration and education.