Today we have a guest blog from the hard-working, talented poet, The Ranting Papizilla. Enjoy!
Charles asked me a few weeks back for a guest post about what poetry is. I have thought long and hard about that very question for many weeks now. I believe I have an answer.
Poetry has different meanings to different people at different times. So my definition of what poetry is, will be completely different than what it means to you. Why is that? Poetry is a fluid animal, picture a Tiger in the jungle. Muscles rippling, it’s movements lithe and light, with all the beauty and grace of its species yet with unmistakable power. To see one is poetic in and of itself. To ponder one is also an exercise in poetry.
Another example of poetry is that of water. It takes the form of whatever contains it, yet if it is powerful enough, it can sweep even the strongest person away. Throughout history there are many examples of poetry doing just that. Each one of you have a favorite poem. Why is it your favorite? What about it drew you in? The tone? Rhythm? Structure or form? Does it also speak to others as it speaks to you, or is it yours alone?
Making love to a beautiful woman is poetry. Especially if it is done right! (Ladies back me up here… 😀 ) An eagle in flight, soaring high above the landscape is poetic. Nature as a whole is poetry in motion, from the gently swaying trees to the sheer raw power of the grandest storm. A falling tree can lend itself to a poem, a blade of grass with a bead of morning dew can give immense inspiration. The buzzing flight of the busy bumble bee can cause the spark of an idea.
Poetry can make you laugh, cry, despair and feel tremendous pride. All within a few stanzas or lines. The very design of poetry is to elicit a base response. Whether good or ill, its intentions are to inflame the passions of the populace. When done correctly it can do and be all of these things. Again, the correctness of a poem is in the eye/ear/voice of the beholder. One person’s Poe may be another person’s trash. Subjective, completely reliant upon point of view and simply you cannot please everyone.
That, to me is what poetry is. What is it to you? Did I capture it correctly? Am I way off base here? Charles, what do you think? This has been a lot of fun, thank you for having me Charles, and thank you for stopping by.
Legends of Windemere 
Reblogged this on The Ranting Papizilla and commented:
My Guest Blog on Legends Of Windemere! Check it out people!
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A darn fine article if I do say so myself. 😀 Thank you for the opportunity Charles, I do appreciate it a great deal.
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You’re welcome. I’m happy that you made the time to do it. Looking forward to that contest.
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Great post. I certainly agree poetry can mean different things to you at different points in your life.
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Poetry is the dimensional meta-coding
of formal definitions. Conversation
tones, normally, own just those
words zoned for linear exclamation,
sufficient momentary efficiencies, and
the daylight rational explanation of
hooking and reeling in thought. If wrought
in prose, tonic sparks attract, like love,
the non-creative man’s atomic arts: fought
inner tendency, forgotten lusts, and lone
dreams. Poetry encodes the me
you’ve never known or seen.
You hit on the one thing I hoped (and knew) you would, Pap… it’s formlessness.
Jim
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Absolutely. I have only begin writing poems and yet I feel as though I can put so much into so few words. Great guest blog.
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Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet and commented:
A wonderful and deep discription of what Poetry is…have a look and admire!
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Reblogged this on We Drink Because We're Poets and commented:
People, check it out! Pap’s take on a question that afflicts most of us: What is Poetry? What do you think?
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I’d say that was a very poetic take on what poetry is… 😉
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Pingback: 3 things poetry is not | Writings of a Mrs
Spot on and poetry in motion for me, your words danced across the page and spoke volumes. I am learning slowly that it is the basis of all good writing. Thank you enjoyed this very much.
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Spot on. To me, this is poetry. http://kyeos.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/embracing/
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This article was poetry itself. Great stuff.
Shared. 🙂
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