Start your study of poetry by choosing a poet whose name is already familiar to you and whose work you can easily find in the library or on the Internet--for example, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and William Shakespeare. Focusing on one poet initially and learning how to analyze her style, rhythm and themes will enable you to apply these techniques to the interpretation of other writers' works.
Select a poem by the author you chose and read it silently all the way through. If there are any words you don't understand or aren't sure how to pronounce, look them up. Read the poem a second time out loud. Set the poem aside and, in your own words, write down what you think the poem is about. On the surface, it may seem simple enough to say that the poet is describing a transition between seasons of nature. Many poems embrace symbolism, however, to paint a word-picture of the human condition. Examples of underlying themes would be the aging process, the loss of love and the pursuit of dreams.
Examine how the setting of the poem contributes to the tone of the poet's message. The imagery of weather, for instance, is often used to suggest turbulent relationships, optimism, despair and uncertainty. An exotic location imbues the subject with mystery, whereas a commonplace backdrop projects comfort and perhaps predictability. Pay attention as well to the lyrical order of the words. "Think not," for example, carries a different--and more elegant--connotation than "Don't think."
Picture in your mind the speaker of the poem and whether he is talking to himself, telling a story by the fire to a friend or describing an event in the context of a letter or speech. In that same vein, determine whether his objective behind the poem is to entertain, educate, enlighten, inspire, anger or depress the reader. Go through the poem and circle words and phrases--including repetitions--that support your conclusions.
Research the poet's life to glean an understanding of the historical, geographical and cultural/social context of her work. Understanding the poet's frame of mind when she penned certain pieces will enhance your awareness of what she was trying to communicate. Poetry, for instance, has often been used to subliminally share political views that might otherwise put the writer in jeopardy if expressed via a different medium.