One of my love affairs is with Poetry. I looked up to see what the definition of poetry is and realised, there really is none to be found. Like music poetry is what it is to the reader. For example I love E.B Browning's poem "How do I love thee, let me count the ways" and not because I find it romantic like "lets sit under the sycamore tree my valentine, so you can sing sweet lullaby's to me while I wipe your brow with my kerchief and tickle your nose with rose petals" NO (although it is that as well to others). I find it rather desperately intense in its declaration. Like I'm about to say my last goodbye and you going off to some ravaged destination, you're looking at me through your carriage window lunging for my hand while I strain towards yours against the platform. Steam billows and a whistle blows signalling departure as we share this last bitter-sweet exchange ". Like that.
As with this one, after reading some poems I want to lose myself in them over and over again, or I long for whatever the poet was relating and sometimes am left just heartbroken because of it. Some leave me with such excitement my face hurts from the smiles, others with an ache as they reminds me of what I do or do not have or even remind me of long forgotten pains. Others let my imagination take to the skies and commune with raptors in flight and some leave me gasping for air, having created such turbulence within me that I feel as though "my self" might implode.
" Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" and Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "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."
My two cents worth is that poetry is a summary of my reading preferences, it is hard, spontaneous, a stark portrait with no inhibitions_it does not have the luxury of time to dabble in niceties or create soft landing pads. My brand of poetry is designed deliver a punch that inflicts the most gratifying damage in the shortest time. It is sadistic, it will not entertain a happy ending for the sake of the reader, based on the history of what sells. My poetry says take me as I am and I'll do with you what I will............
If you enjoy this medium, how do you define it, how does it influence your outlook on life.
These are some of my favourites and I have shared others I love equally in my previous posts.
When Beauty and Beauty meet All naked, fair to fair,
The earth is crying-sweet,
And scattering-bright the air,
Eddying, dizzying, closing round,
With soft and drunken laughter;
Veiling all that may befall
After -- after --
Where Beauty and Beauty met,
Earth's still a-tremble there,
And winds are scented yet,
And memory-soft the air,
Bosoming, folding glints of light,
And shreds of shadowy laughter;
Not the tears that fill the years
After -- after --
She is totally awesome.
I love poetry, too, Wendy.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your Pimms! :)
Poetry rocks, especially when I get the message behind it. My favorite types of poetry are haikus because I like the challenge of going for the 5-7-5 syllables in each line. It astounded me when I actually wrote a haiku that worked.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog. It's a pleasure to meet you via the A-Z Challenge!
I love poetry for the way it sends my soul souring. :)
ReplyDeleteYour write up about it is lovely, and thank you for introducing me to the works of Rupert Brooke. Just been reading about his life, so short alas.
I've never really considered myself a poetry person, but you've given me something to really think about. The fact that it really has no definition is interesting.
ReplyDelete@ Jeffrey _ I'd really love to read your kaiku, where is it available?
ReplyDelete@ Jayne _ I was fortunate enough to land my hands on a leather bound collection of his Poems and Memoir printed in...wait for it... 1936. I am totally chaffed. Plz check my most fav, poem of his: http://fabulositynouveau.blogspot.com/2011/04/d-for-death.html ...and aye alas a beautific man gone too young (oddly enough his poems are quite centred on death and heaven...he must have know something)
@ Karen _ I was also the same on account of having struggled with it at school but the more I read in my adult life the more I started dabbling in it. The shocker is when I do decide to write something, it tends to come out feeling poetic even though its not what I set out to do. Poetry is beautiful.
I love nuance and I love words that make me think, so I do love poetry. April is National Poetry month. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a poetry reader so I couldn't define it. However, I have seen deaf poetry done and it's incredibly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh, man, that girl ROCKS. What a great piece. I'm not much for writing poetry myself (It's all the counting that gets me,) but when you see something like that, it really gives you an appreciation both for the beauty of poetry and the spoken word.
ReplyDelete