What is Poetry?
You know, I never really analyzed it officially, like this.
Although, I always did think it carried deeper meaning
than everyday experiences.
But, that isn’t true, because poetry
speaks about everything
within bounds and without.
I never thought I would be moved to write so
much of it as I do now.
I knew it was associated with literature.
But, what is it exactly?
It seems I should know, since I have written an awful lot of it lately.
I think dead poets would tell you if they could write and speak
as I do.
I do know that Poe and Bukowski inspired me to write poems.
Also, JD Salinger ‘s novel, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ inspired me to write my
novel ‘Meet Duff.’
I know that poetry is creative writing.
It is art because what comes through me doesn’t tell me
where it comes from.
Poetry does what it wants
often without my
permission.
Even, my own poems are not
beholden to me.
one thing comes from another and then all of a sudden, a poem is born.
It’s like taking steps to the top of the mountain.
One step at a time until you reach the summit.
then, you look down and see your completed work.
when you have written enough and it sounds right
you have arrived, then you know it’s done.
It’s as if I am a vessel for it
and it flows through my finger tips.
It is composed of words which hear, see and taste.
It’s full of meanings and emotions.
It is individual because it is written by one.
And, it affects each one of us in an individual way
because we interpret words differently.
So, reading and writing poetry is not necessarily a group thing.
It lies alone within our own interpretation of it.
But, does it help you understand yourself?
I am not sure what it does.
I don’t know if it is meant to do that,
nor should.
But, when it does what it’s supposed to do
it makes you feel a certain way and you know it.
I don’t know if it’s an ‘Ah Ha’ feeling.
I’m not sure of that.
But, I know that I am inclined to write it.
And, who I am may speak through it
in ways I don’t even understand.
Poetry can rhyme or not,
say something understandable or
not make any sense at all.
It can also be bad, good and mediocre poetry.
But, it’s all poetry and its quality is in the eye of the beholder.
This is the best I can do to describe it.
And, it seems I can explain some things about what poetry is and is not
nearly as well as I can write a poem.
What is poetry
but something
which speaks
high,
low,
wide
and deep.
Poetry is there
wherever you look;
on a billboard,
on a sign,
a bird flying by,
even someone walking on a bus.
It hides itself in the mundane as well as
riding the surface of the extraordinary.
It’s for all to see who have the
right eyes,
whether it’s dead or alive
as
metaphorical magic
within the passing message
requiring unraveling,
more often
expecting nothing but
an eye for catching beauty
wherever it may lie.