Poetry: A Way of Expression

Poetry. If you've read my previous articles on it and know a little about me, then you know I'm a believer in the world of poetry. This time, I'm not going to convince you to give poetry a chance, but explain why poetry is one of the true ways of expressing oneself. Poetry is a way of expression. It has been written for hundreds and hundreds of years, and it has served as a unique writing form, but also a way in which a person can express themselves. It gives them a voice they either didn't know they had or a way to express how they feel without actually using their voice. I'm not saying to hide behind poetry, but to use it and harness it as a tool and as a part of you. People enjoy the written word, and they also like emotion, so one thing that poetry can do is not only bring out these things and bring these people together, but to do it in a way that only poetry can.

Whether it's a rhyming poem, free verse, a ballad, or a sonnet, poetry will get its message across no matter what type of form it's in. For example, William Shakespeare wrote sonnets and some deep, thorough, and heartfelt sonnets at that. Sure, he used iambic pentameter and his language and structure, but you know what? If you've read Shakespeare, you still knew what he was talking about, and you were still likely moved or captivated by what you read.

This is because, as good as Shakespeare was, he was also using the tools of poetry and words to express himself. Emily Dickinson has some rather dreary and depressing poems, and while they are very sad to read, they are also very well written, and they express her thoughts and feelings as she was feeling at the time. Also, could anyone paint a better visual of nature using words than Emerson, Thoreau, or Frost? Their expression about nature wasn't just about nature but also about finding one's in the outdoors and taking in nature and all of what makes it majestic.

Poetry doesn't have to be a sad rhyming poem about how depressing your life is, and it doesn't have to be an over-the-top love sonnet of you expressing your life for someone. The fact that you are in your own, sitting down and writing and using your thoughts and putting them down into words on paper or a screen is proof that you're using poetry to express yourself. Nothing is truer than that, and nothing feels more right than writing a poem because you're feeling so much and have so much to say.

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