When you think about art what comes to mind? Sculptures, oil paintings, drawings, carvings, decorative hand-blown glass art, murals or customized installations? Like a sculpture or a painting, art is about observing and touching the spirit of an individual. When creating poetry, like the attention one gives to shading, adding texture and dimensions to a painting or sculpture, this genre uses the aesthetic character of words, language and metaphors to add a variation of details to the poems.
The anatomy of a poem begins with a vision of components arranged systematically to design what the end product will be. It is created with the physical or spiritual sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. Poems are words that are composed like the musical notes on a staff, in a treble and bass clef. Poetry is akin to music arranged in different keys and pitches. Just like art and music, poetry touches the heart and teaches the poet and audience, expressions of everyday life lessons. A book of poetry is like an exhibition or rare collection in a gallery or museum.
Words expressed through literary works, lyrics to songs, greeting cards or speeches, reflects who we are and what others mean to us. Poetry is sensitive and powerful. This medium can take the staccato of words and weave them into affixed patterns of rhythmic emotions and responses. Poetry will help to strengthen our communication skills, build our vocabulary, help us to develop and understand poetic forms and techniques, while intensifying our analytical skills.
Architects design a blueprint in order to build a spectacular project on a solid foundation. The design has to have form and function. The spirit of poetry must contain form and function. With form, the arrangement of words has to develop interrelated components that tell some type of story in an abbreviated time frame. Function enhances ideas, literacy, inspiration, creativity and awareness. The soul of poetry will elevate one’s thoughts and imagination through the composition of poetic form.