At first glance, the world of poetry can seem mysterious and unattainable, which can lead one to question the meaning and importance of writing or reading poetry. Like many others, I doubted how meaningful the poems I wrote and read really were. Over time, however, my perspective changed and I discovered the beauty and depth hidden within this art form.
This article explores my personal journey from indifference to poetry, to changing my habits to capture meaning beyond emotionally written texts, and ultimately discovering the power of poetry.
As I said, writing had become a part of my life. However, poetry never appealed to me. I concentrated on other forms of writing and felt that poetry lacked substance and clarity. However, as I matured, I realised the fascinating aspect of poetry’s emotional intensity and its ability to delve into the depths of our feelings. I decided to question my prejudices and give poetry a chance.
It wasn’t easy, of course, so I preferred to approach it from a literary perspective as much as possible. I went on a literary quest to really understand the essence of poetry. I read a lot of poets, but I couldn’t find anyone who captured my interest. I researched famous poets like Novalis, a German poet known for his lyrical and introspective verses. I found the poem “Hymns to the Night” so compelling that I read it over and over again. By immersing myself in his work, I wanted to understand the art behind his words and the emotions they conveyed. By examining symbolism, metaphor and underlying themes, I hoped to unlock the secrets hidden within his lines. In my opinion, the German writer was excellent at this.
During this voyage of discovery, someone entered my life. The presence of a special person illuminated the path of my poetic journey. Suddenly the beauty and power of poetry became clearer to me. I wanted to express my deepest feelings to this person, and poetry gave me that opportunity. The words on the page brought love, longing and devotion to life as they danced across the paper.
But as you know, practice is everything, whatever the subject. When I was younger, I had a desire to achieve something. I wanted to write poems and songs for my lover or partner and one day put them together. Yes, being a sentimental romantic, I don’t know why I didn’t develop an interest in poetry earlier. Finally, when I thought the time had come to prepare all this, I wrote poems and writings about the things we both loved every day until her birthday. It was exhausting at times, I won’t lie, but it was still a fulfilling experience. When I showed her the website I had made for her — where I had collected everything — she said it was the best present she had ever received in her life. I guess I did a good job.
I realised that poetry is not just about the person who writes it. It is not about what you write or who you are, but about the emotions you convey through your words. In my opinion, poetry is a tool to express your emotions, to highlight your feelings towards something or someone. It is the narrator of my inner world and an emotional journey. The magic of poetry lies in its ability to express emotional depths through words and touch the reader. Writing poetry has allowed me to bring myself and my emotions back to the surface. It not only allowed me to express myself, but also gave me a voice to speak to the person I was writing to.
I can’t leave without mentioning that poetry is not supposed to be for everyone’s taste. I have often used a metaphor on this subject: Understanding poetry is like looking at paintings in a museum.
Image taken by Author
The tones of colour resemble the rhythms of poetry. Just as a painter reflects the fluidity of a painting, a poet floats on words. Not everyone who looks at the painting from the outside will understand it. But those who seriously engage with it will come to their own conclusions based on their accumulated emotions. The same is true of poetry; both are uncertain forms of art.
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