Poetry

Poetry may be one of the most difficult literary words to define. In modern literature, the definition of poetry is somewhat fluid. There are no specific parameters set forth for poetry. It does not need to rhyme, have a certain number of lines, or use meter. Poetry simply must make its audience feel something. The problem with defining poetry is trying to distinguish the difference between a poem and prose. When you think about it, prose should also make its readers feel something. For me, the difference is the intensity. Prose is a marathon while a poem is a 100-meter sprint. You feel like you’re going to be sick after both of them, but how you reach that feeling is very different for the two races. Poetry is the same way. In prose, readers take their time getting acquainted with emotions that work evokes in them. It takes time and patience. In poetry, readers are affronted by emotion. I think the reason people avoid poetry is they are scared of it. They are scared partly because poetry can be hard to read sometimes. It requires some extra effort to understand the meaning of a work. I think the fear also comes from the emotion. Sometimes people just want to avoid their emotions, and poetry will not let you do that. It’s pretty much the whole point of poetry.