You cannot read a poem as you do the newspaper . . It takes several readings because the language of poetry is condensed. The ideas carried by those words are often more varied than those carried by the same words in drama or prose. Read to the punctuation, not to the end of the line. Stop at periods and semicolons, whether they're at the end of the line or not.
Much poetry is made up of regular sentences.
If you do not know the definitions of the words, look them up. Sometimes poets don't name their work, but most do. Unless you're reading Emily Dickinson, check out the title of the work in question. Ferlinghetti marches the words across the page, then retreats, just like the tight-wire walker moves forward and back. Check the pronouns.