by margaret hillcroft

Created on: February 03, 2009   Last Updated: February 25, 2009

I do not like this choice. It presumes judgment. The beauty of poetry is that it expresses a truth, maybe not "THE TRUTH" but the truth of the writer at the time of writing. This has to be beyond judgement. "The best" poetry? What is this? Something that appeals to the intellect or to the heart? Something which moves us or causes to look at an aspect of life in a new way? A clever use of word and metaphor? I could never judge "the best" poem. I could only ever state my preference. I leave the judgement to those critical souls who reckon they know more. I leave it to those boorish individuals in love with their own "spiel" who consider themselves superior enough to pronounce the expression of another's sentiment "good" "bad" or "absolute rubbish".

"Some poetry's clever and some is witty.

Some is dour and some is pretty

Some brings tears to the joy's bright door

And some is just a dreadful bore"

Heart, soul body and mind. Doesn't the creation of a poem use all these human tools? The passion springs from the soul. The raw emotions are chanelled through the heart and given sensitivity. The outer world is seen through the eyes and the pen held by the hand. The information is processed by the intellect and the whole scene given colour by the imagination. It is the mixing of all these senses and processes which produce a poem and then it is all mixed again by the senses and perceptions of the reader. Each poem can mean somethiing different to each person who reads or hears it.

Personally, I enjoy clever poetry. Shakespeare's wit and ingenious use of metaphor and words challenges my intellect. Yet he writes about the devious and delightful affairs of the human heart as perceived by his heart. It would be dry reading without emotional content. Would it still be poetry? I think not. It would be a report or a historical record, a mere list of dates and events.

"1300 AD Duncan rules Scotland"

1301 AD Duncan murdered at the home of Macbeth

1301 AD Macbeth consults three witches"

This does not stir the soul or do much for the intellect.

On the other hand, out pourings of sentiment and emotion can be equally uninspiring to the point of nausea.

"You will always be my my love

My heart aches now you've gone above.

Now you're held in deaths cold breast.......

Is this of any interest?"

Well, frankly, no. Not to me. We have all been there and got the tee shirt. To the writer, however, to accept and express these sentiments might be all important. The least we can do is share that acceptance and say "Well done" for having the honesty and courage to write them.

Given the choice, which has more impact, a lengthy dissertation about the long term effects of global warming or the simple heartfelt cry of a child

"Mummy, I'm scared"

"MUMMY, I'm scared

"Mummy, I'm SCARED"

I am not judging best, better or better by far. I can say without a moments analysis which speaks volumes to me.

Learn more about this author, margaret hillcroft.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.