English

Poetry is often cast as the useless little brother in the rather large artistic family; doomed to be underrated and overly criticized. Poetry’s self-esteem has dried up over the years as less and less people pay attention to his appeals and needs. He is often forgotten and generally misunderstood, overlooked by the other members of his family and the people looking into their doings. “Poetry is what gets lost in translation” (Frost). Poetry doesn’t ask for much; just quiet consideration and some love.

            For most people, poetry is the only way to express themselves. They would not be able to play an instrument, move along in rhythm, or wield a paintbrush to save their lives. Poetry is the only way they can share their emotions without tearing down the walls. Poets twist words so that they don’t have to twits their hands and fingers into knots trying to explain themselves. Instead of destruction, something new is created; something linked to turmoil or joy, sorrow or praise. Poetry provides a release for the pent up emotions of the unusually artistic.

            Poetry doesn’t exist just for the sake of existing. Poetry thrives on being shared and enjoyed. Poetry is only poetry when others take it in. A poet’s job is not complete until another soul has attached itself to the words in the stanzas, they have no satisfaction until their emotions have seeped off those pages and are loved by someone, anyone, else. Unless poetry is understood by another, it doesn’t mean anything. Poetry is made to meld and join with the reader’s emotions and ideals.

            Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to understand the cryptic sayings of Poetry but that is what makes Poetry who he is; he’s mysterious. And who doesn’t love a mystery? Poetry is short, multifaceted, and meaningful. He is easy to appreciate, yet no one often takes the time to even acknowledge his existence. If one would just spend the time to get to know Poetry and all his faces, he would immediately become their best friend. Poetry is easily loved once he becomes understood and one learns to maneuver through his quirks and mannerisms. If you learn to work your way around Poetry’s thoughts, you can more easily find your way through your emotions and memories.

            Poetry is the easiest way to connect with someone outside yourself. It is easier to connect with words on a page that make an idea than to connect to the stone that creates a sculpture or a stroke that makes a painting. “Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance” (Sandburg). A poem is a poet’s thought that will merge with your own because it can remind you of a time in your life that was similar. A poem speaks to you rather than showing you what the poet is thinking.

            Poetry is simple and can really be found in anything. “I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything” (Wright). The words don’t have to rhyme, they just have to flow. They need not paint a picture but leave an impression of one. Though seeing the beauty of a good poem may seem complicated, in practice it’s a cinch, and it gives you so much more than a pop song or a coal sketch. If you simply look at the poem, there’s something there. If you dig a little deeper, there’s something more profound. There’s more substance to Poetry than one would first assume, he has more depth than many of the other members of his artistic family. He’s more accurate than his counterparts. “Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history” (Plato).