What is Poetry?
"the spontaneous overflow of powerful things" - William Wordsworth
"If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry"
- Emily Dickinson
"Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing." - Dylan Thomas
Poetry existed back in the days of Old English and Middle English. Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales were prose - poems with stories in it. From my point of view, poets write poems to express their inaugural feelings.The best way to express one's feelings without being suppressed is through writing, but what form of writing? Do one write novel, novella, or short stories to express themselves? To some, yes. But it does not really reflect your true emotions. Poetry is unique and it blends easily as the usage of words are minimal and hit the bull's eye. Generally, the words used in poems are accurate, and the readers could feel it instantly without all the fuss and hustle bustle of going through the whole book as in novels and such. Poetry comes with stanzas and rhymes. That's the backbone of poems. In my opinion, poems are very structural. It has spines, bones, and even blood vessels, just like any human being. It is alive. It breathe. If stanzas and rhymes are considered as the backbones of the poem. The words used must be listed as the spines, and blood vessels in all poems that has ever created by poets from all around the world. In reference to Dickinson's quote above, she gave us an impression that poems have the characteristics of a human. It was as if poems can hold her tightly, wrap around her like a shawl, or even hug her to warm her up. That indeed, it is true that poems are alive. Furthermore, in reference to Thomas's quote, we know that poems can go as far as to be our loyal companion. It sticks to us. It will always be at our side during our ups and downs. Through poetry, we often get this overwhelming feelings and emotions that eventually we will be swept away gracefully, or taking up for a thrilling roller coaster ride. With it, comes in package that sometimes we find ourselves crying and laughing as we read the poem. It is an amazing feeling!
Words Cited
- "Flanagan, Mark. Contemporary Literature Guide" Grasping at the Indefinable. http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/poetry/a/poetry.htm
*Answers given by the Blogger are of her own opinions, solely*
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