POETRY IS ....

Michael Edwards

 

 

POETRY IS….

 

 

Not contained by common mould

Nor do conventions rails restrict

My work created knowingly

And not obscured by open mind

Its rendered form intelligible

in rhyme and honest fluency.

 

Vision drives creative thought

Autonomous and self-defining

Set within a currency

Extending far beyond mere words

Where shape and content interact

Together in their tenancy.

 

And so I choose to write

And what I write is merely text

Quite uninspired by recipe.

The pen I use: the instrument

Recording deepest inner thoughts

Mandated for posterity.

 

Yet still I wonder:

what is poetry?

 

 

 

  • Author: Michael Edwards (Offline Offline)
  • Published: December 11th, 2017 00:59
  • Comment from author about the poem: Well here's my attempt to respond to Louis' challenge plus yet another watercolour.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 104
  • Users favorite of this poem: annonymouswonder
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓

Receive the ebook in seconds 50 poems from 50 different authors


Comments +

Comments11

  • ron parrish aka wordman

    wonderful description of poetry,loved the image

  • FredPeyer

    You ARE a master, Michael! What indeed is poetry? Judging from all the responses, it could be anything.

  • orchidee

    I should think poetry is something like this for sure.
    No one can say it's mouldy - first line!
    Pen or pencil? Have ya got a spare pencil sharpener? Mine's broken. Can't write a thing meanwhile!

    • Michael Edwards

      More like a jelly mould and only a pen - I've got some charcoal if that helps - cheers Orchi.

    • Goldfinch60

      Good write, that strange thing within us that need to become words on paper for others to read.

      • Michael Edwards

        you are so right Andy - strange but I often put words down and wonder 'Where did that come from?' - something deep inside I guess.

        • Goldfinch60

          Very true Michael. One poem I wrote a few years ago I do not remember writing the last stanza but I do remember the tears flowing down my cheeks.

        • Poetic Dan

          Beautifully done! I written another on this last night as you said so amazingly, I could go on wondering what poetry actually is and thus feels like it could be never-ending.

          • Michael Edwards

            Just so PD

            It's worth pasting below my comment I made against another posting by Lasergraph - such diversity in our approach etc:

            ' For me good poetry transports me and takes me to places either where I have never been or where I am asked to redefine. I never write poetry about my own personal inner thinking nor do I ever bear my soul. Even when I do write in the first person it is rare indeed that I actually am providing a documentary about myself except on those rare occasions where I am discussing politics or philosophy'

            We are all different aren't we.

          • WL Schuett

            Well said ... what poetry is seems to ask more questions than it gives answers... another wonderful watercolor

            • Michael Edwards

              Thanks so much Bill. I even wonder if we need to ask questions - does it really matter - probably not.

            • FineB

              Thank you Michael.

              What a lovely poem.

              Poetry can speak to us on so many levels and your poem captures this

              Keep writing
              FineB

              • Michael Edwards

                Thanks FineB - appreciate your looking in.

              • Louis Gibbs

                "Where shape and content interact" ... that line in this fine poem caught my eye, Michael. As you have no doubt observed, to me, the shape of a poem is an important element of it's beauty and impact. This is a fine contribution to the challenge of "Poetry Is". Kudos!
                By the way, the watercolor is stunning! Love it.

                • Michael Edwards

                  Thanks Louis and thanks for setting the challenge - if you hadn't this would never have been written. Actually I quite like the first line: not set by common mould - in other words anything goes.

                • Christina8

                  Wonderful write about what poetry is. Seems we could keep adding more and more. Absolutely lovely watercolor!!

                • BRIAN & ANGELA

                  Your Poem tells me (in a word) the POETRY is an expression of the SOUL (the unconscious mind) and cannot be defined in "words of time and sense" as you indicate in you final doublet. I am a BIOCHEMIST so i have an Academic understanding of hormones and libido etc. But if anyone asks me to describe LOVE in terms of BIOCHEMISTRY ~ my answer is always ~ "Don't try to understand it just enjoy it while it lasts" the same is true of POETRY and of course S * X ! Thanks for sharing BRIAN.

                  • Michael Edwards

                    Well put Brian - the other ingredient is subject matter which is another matter entirely. but as you say 'Just enjoy it'.

                  • Mottakeenur Rehman

                    Amazing!



                  To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.