At school, I could never understand the classic poets from history, and confess that the stuff I used to write then was dull and empty, with the rhythm:
da di da di da di da,
da di da di da da,
da di da di da di da,
da di da di da.
To be honest, I thought that was what all poetry was meant to be like.
In 1974, I attended a poetry course in Cornwall, where our ‘guest tutor’, a man with many printed accolades and recordings to his name (which I can’t remember), confirmed that I could write verse, but not poetry.
That stuck with me and I didn’t write anything for several years.
In the late 70s and 80s though, I started to write again.
Like my music, it was a way of getting my feelings out of my system, and I started a scrapbook of my little ditties. I came across it a few years ago and put some entries here in my blog.
I’ve written a lot since, some funny, some sad, some reflecting dreams and nightmares, and also trying my hand at Haikus and Abecedariums.
I have learned more about poetry through blogging than that Professional Expert from forty odd years ago could ever teach.
There are some writers out there on Word Press that move me with their expressive offerings, insights, and emotions.
On paper (or in print), they can expel their deepest fears, despair and regrets, touch deep into their own souls for their reasons for living, loving and sharing, and I finally understand what real poetry is.
It can be on any subject, fiction or personal.
It doesn’t have to rhyme.
It doesn’t have to have a certain number of lines.
It doesn’t have to be in a specific logical order or format.
True Poetry has the
Power to move the reader. It can
Overrule the senses of the norm,
Enrich our lives with vision,
Touch us in such a way to make us feel each word or phrase,
Raise us up to a plain of expression, and make us
Yearn for something we wish we had.
I read this a little while ago, and still cannot believe that I wrote it.
pensitivity101 
I look at the word “poetry” and see it as a label which will deter many people from reading further, and encourage some to read on. If I tried to explain my limited definition of poetry(verse), purists would wave their arms in the air and exclaim that there are so many legitimate forms… and I would agree, but I keep my life simple.
A good story may well meet all the literary guidelines of story writing but, if it does not hold my attention, what purpose did the literary guidelines serve? I look at poetry in exactly the same way in that if I can connect with at last part of the message being conveyed, then it is a good poem regardless of structure and type. If can become emotionally involved in a poem, then it is excellent.
Adhering to literary standards and structure no doubt serves a valuable purpose but surely the end result of writing anything for public consumption is to hope that someone out there will connect with it at some level. Sadly, too many perfectly able writers of prose and poetry(verse) do not pursue that ability simply because of the perceived confines of traditional structures and formats.
As an analogy, so many musicians learned their craft after leaving school and “self taught”! We should always encourage creativity regardless of “labels”. 🙂
I like the simple life too, and at the moment, it couldn’t be more so (and I love it). Creativity comes in all forms, poetry is just one. At grammar school I was anything but encouraged. These days, I am so glad to be Me, with my own opinions and concepts (right or wrong). Sometimes things don’t come out exactly as I’d intended though.
I think I had the same kind of teacher at school!
It’s great to find the creativity and freedom which poetry should have. And your efforts are really good! 🙂
Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoy them. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Pen. And yes, you do just fine with Poetry! 🙂
Thank you so much! It means a lot.