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Poetry: The Art of Writing What Won’t Let Go
Some verses settle in my bones and refuse to leave
Why do I write poetry? I don’t think I’ve ever answered that question. To answer this question, I must first explain what poetry means to me. Poetry is rhythm, truth, and sense. Poetry has texture.
The texture of a poem can be smooth and flowing or rough and jagged, depending on the poet’s choice of words and the emotions she or he wants to convey. It can be delicate and ethereal or bold and powerful and evoke a wide range of sensations and responses while provoking an array of thoughts.
Most importantly, I see poetry as the heartbeat of language, the music beneath meaning. Poetry has a tangible essence we can not only feel but also experience. A single line can shake my soul, leaving an imprint I’ll remember for life:
“I am so perfect so divine, so ethereal, so surreal I cannot be comprehended except by my permission” — Nikki Giovanni, “Ego-Tripping”
A single image or a carefully chosen word can transport me to forgotten memories, unspoken hurts, and long-lost dreams. Poetry is the rawest form of written expression because it doesn’t just tell; a poem can transmit.
