Poetry is that beautiful word art,
Which in literature is always set apart,
To the aesthetic benefit of all mankind.
In its loftiness it can soar above prose,
Or be humorous, stirring, base, even gross,
Always concise; in its meaning refined.
Poetry should always make some sort of sense,
It should never be so obtuse, vague, or dense,
That its meaning is difficult to find.
Good poetry is written from the depths of the heart,
The poet's thoughts and feelings in verse to impart,
To kindred souls who are of like mind.
It is always best when the emotions are stirred,
Giving vent to passions all too often deferred;
Held in abeyance until fully defined;
Then set to paper in the form of one's choice,
Dramatic, narrative or lyrical in voice,
Rhyming or free verse, there is no fixed kind.
A poem may not speak to everyone's heart,
Its uniqueness of style is what sets it apart,
Speaking best to a heart so inclined.