That is a beautiful thought Philip!  I agree that a good poem is an expression of our very hearts and souls and our inner beauty and talent.

i respect and - of course - agree with the great Dylan Thomas

 

though

 

he seems to focus on a poem's affect on the greater world outside the poet

 

the poet's soul is changed forever as well - and - without the poet's change - the poem would not be written or spoken and none would hear the words

 

so

 

i would submit that the poet's soul changes in creating the poem - setting in motion a neverending and widening ripple in time - touching each reader as it goes from eye to neocortex to heartstring

 

funny thing - the poet's impetus - message - feelings - may have nothing to do with the readers' - since i believe we all take something different away from any poem - we make it our own - a communication - poet's soul to readers'

 

but then - i know so little - i likely know not what poetry is

 

thank you Philip for asking,

mikhail

Hi Philip,

 

"What is poetry?"

 

I've often asked myself that same question (and it's also a question that my non-poetic friends keep asking me). I believe that poetry comes straight from the heart and that it's how we, as poets, perceive the world around us. It's also a way of expressing deep feelings within our hearts.

 

I wrote a poem on the same subject a few years ago. I only posted it here a couple of months back, but perhaps the time has come for me to repost it.

 

Poetess

xx

i wonder if it the difference between writing for commercial endeavours vs writing from one's heart?

 

dear Dylan sounds like he was more concerned about an audience than i thought he would be

 

nonetheless - i yield to Dylan's intellect

 

best,

m

I believe that my gift of writing poetry came from God.  I have never tried to expound on the fame or financial aspect of my writing.