Painting With Words
Poets are a combination of artist and songwriter. They are impelled as much by their hearts as their heads. Thus, well-written poems can inspire you. They can make you think, laugh and cry. The book The Need for Words says: “Poetry is often nothing more than words organised to have a high, sudden impact. That’s partly the reason why great poems . . . are unforgettable in every way.”
Beautiful poetry is rarely the work of a shallow mind. Poetry has a long-standing connection with what matters most to us—relationships, love, spirituality, nature, and the meaning of life. It should come as no surprise then that poetry is one of the oldest art forms. Comparing poetry with prose one famous poet said that if both described the same thing and were equally well written, “the verse will be read a hundred times where the prose is read once.”
Because of its attributes, poetry is often relatively easy to memorize. The oldest surviving Greek poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were recited from memory at Greek festivals—quite a feat, given the epic proportions of these works!
The Macquarie Dictionary defines poetry as “the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts” and as “literary work in metrical form; verse.” Note the two key attributes of poetry—rhythm and meter. Rhythm is part of the world around us. We see it in ocean tides, in seasons, and the beat of our heart. Meter is the pattern of rhythm. Another popular poetic device is rhyme.
Not dependent on rhyme, Japanese haiku is famous for combining beauty of thought with astonishing brevity. It packs its thoughts into just three lines comprising 17 syllables—5 in the first and third lines and 7 in the second. Its beauty and simplicity have made haiku an enjoyable introduction to poetry for many.
Traditionally, poetry is notorious for compressing considerable thought into few words. The World Book Encyclopedia states that poetic words “suggest much more than they say. They stir your imagination . . . The language of poetry is packed under pressure, and the meaning of a single word may trigger the thought, letting the entire poem explode in your imagination.” Of course, you may have to read some poems a few times before they “explode” in your mind, allowing you to grasp their sense.
If you want to write poetry yourself, you would do well to first read a wide range of verse. This will help you to grasp the various principles of composition. Obviously, the best way to learn to write verse is to sit down with pencil and paper and write, or sit at the computer and type.
Why not try putting your thoughts into verse when you send someone a get well or thank you card? Your poetry need not be long or brilliant. Just write a few lines expressing what is in your heart. Be genuine. You don’t have to be a genius to write poetry, any more than you have to be a great chef to enjoy preparing a meal. Mix equal amounts of desire, imagination, effort, and persistence and the paintings with words that you produce may just surprise you.