Copy of What is Poetry?

What do you think it is?

Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey,

described the wanderings of the adventurer, Odysseus,

and has been called the greatest story ever told.

Perhaps the trait most important to the definition of poetry

is its refusal to be defined,

labeled, or nailed down.

But let's not let that stop us, shall we?

It's about time someone wrestled poetry to the ground and slapped a sign on its back reading,

"I'm poetry. Kick me here."

Let's try that again...

Poets are cheap and critical

in the way they write out words on a page.

Carefully selecting words for shortness and clarity

is normal for all writers,

but poets go well beyond this.

its s p a c i n g,

spacial relationship to the page

How's that? Do we have a definition yet?

Poetry is a riddle wrapped in an mystery

wearing a cardigan sweater.

...or something like that.

It doesn't like your definitions

and will dodge them at every turn.

If you really want to know what poetry is, read it. Read it carefully.

Pay attention.

Read it out loud.

Now read it again. 

One of the most definable traits of poetry is economy of language (saying something using very few words). Poets are cheap and critical in the way they write out words on a page. Carefully selecting words for shortness and clarity is normal for all writers, but poets go well beyond this, considering a word's emotional qualities, its musical value, its spacing, and yes, even its spacial relationship to the page (how it LOOKS).

There's your definition of poetry.

...Because defining poetry is like

grasping at the wind -

once you catch it,

it's no longer wind.

Try not to define poetry

Don’t do it. Don't shackle poetry with your definitions.

Poetry is not a frail and cerebral old woman, you know.

Poetry is stronger than you think.

Poetry is imagination and will break those chains

faster than you can say ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’.

Pretty unsatisfying, huh?

Kind of leaves you feeling cheap, dirty,

all hollow and empty inside,

like cheap Chinese food.

“Poetry is artistically rendering words

in such a way as to evoke intense emotion

or an Ah Ha! experience from the reader.”

On the other hand, poetry has the ability to surprise the reader with an Ah Ha! experience -- shock, insight, further understanding of truth and beauty.

Poetry is evocative

(awakes emotions or thoughts inside of you).

It typically evokes in the reader

an intense emotion:

joy, sorrow, anger, love...

The Purpose of Poetry?

There are many reasons for writing poetry.

You may use poetry to narrate, describe, argue, or define.

You may even just write poetry because you are

force to do so in a grade 6/7 Language Arts class...

Poets consider a word's

emotional qualities,

its musical value,

and yes, even its...

(how it LOOKS).

What is Poetry?

William Wordsworth defined poetry as:

"the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings."

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."

There are almost as many

definitions of poetry

as there are poets.

“Poetry is just the evidence of life.

If your life is burning well,

poetry is just the ash.” -Leonard Cohen

Dylan Thomas

defined poetry this way:

If a poet is anybody,

he is somebody to whom

things made

matter very little -

somebody who is obsessed by Making.

–e e cummings

"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."

During the English Renaissance,

dramatic poets like John Milton,

Christopher Marlowe, and of course Shakespeare gave us enough poetry to fill textbooks, lecture halls, and universities.

Poetry is when

an emotion has found its thought

and the thought has found words.

-Robert Frost

I see the poem

or the novel

ending with an open door.

-Michael Ondaatje

"A word

after a word

after a word

is power."

-Margeret Atwood

I like to think of spoken word (and all art, really)

as a response to the world around me.

It’s where I ask questions: How do I feel?

What do I think? What is the truth of this matter?

And in the answers I find the poem.

And the act of speaking that poem is spoken word.

-Shauntay Grant

Poetry is a lot of things to a lot of people.

I play with words.

I dance with words.

I work with words.

-Sheree Fitch

economy of language

So what is poetry???

One of the most definable traits of poetry is...

Poetry is the chiseled marble of language;

it's a paint-spattered canvas -

but the poet uses words instead of paint,

and the canvas is you.