Poetry is ...

[Olly Buckle]

It is fairly obvious really, I am asking you to finish the statement appropriately. I hope for everything from the matter-of-fact ‘Poetry is a collection of words arranged in order ...”, to “Poetry is an ephemeral sense of being contained within ...”. Along the way I would expect a number of definitions that are definitions of a poem, or even most poems; but it is hard to think of things that cover everything. For example, “Poetry is an unusual view of that which is usually concealed or mundane.” It is true of a lot of poetry; all?

That should give us plenty to discuss in between. Your turn ...

[Terry D]

Poetry is: Words maximized.

[Susanmuse]

Poetry is the moment between heartbeats.

[Olly Buckle]

I hope for everything from the matter-of-fact ‘Poetry is a collection of words arranged in order ...”, to “Poetry is an ephemeral sense of being contained within ...”.

My hopes are being realised it seems, though you two phrase the points of view far more elegantly than I did. How about,

Poetry is the transformation of the individual into the communal; the translation of the private and personal into the universal and cultural and the transmutation of the agonising into the rich.

[Olly Buckle]

I have just come across W H Auden quoted as saying " Poetry is memorable speech". It is not true, I am sure I have heard people mis-Quote things more often than they could quote them. to my mind it draws attention to the point in a way that is singular and holds the attention. The event may be memorable, but although the particular words may frequently be recognised for their excellence they are more rarely memorable.
"How did he put it? ... no it was almost that ... anyway it was dead good, you should have heard it."

[Susanmuse]

Poetry is the echo of silence. A falling leaf. The moment of release. The hollow tear shed in darkness. Poetry leads us to the More.

[Zico Cozier]

Poetry is the expression of one's imagination through the mystification of a reality

[Foxee]

Poetry is truth distilled.

[Gumby]

The best explanation I’ve heard is that poetry is paradoxical. It attempts to use words to say something that can’t be put into words. It fills in the cracks and is the empty space that is left over. I know that may not make a lot of sense, so I’ll let the poet Mark Strand say it, better than I can.


Keeping Things Whole


In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body’s been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Mark Strand

(I took this from my article in one of our newsletters, so if it sounds familiar...)

[Don V Standeford]

Poetry is something new that flowers from the existence of something old. A fresh scent from an ancient sea. Beauty out of ugliness to beauty again.