by Ryan Anderson

Created on: July 02, 2007

Obviously this could be argued either way, but going with the notion that poetry starts in the heart (for example, an unquenchable desire to spill out one's feelings on a subject, etc.), the mind should then be engaged to help put the feelings down on paper.

I have read many a so-called poem, and have come away wondering why it was called poetry. It seemed that that sort of "poetry" started and stayed in the heart. Had the MIND been engaged, there might have been some clever plays on words, and even a bit of rhyming. Here's an example. Let's go with a person sitting on the beach:

HEART approach:
The waves come in small bursts, ever increasing.
I sit, knees to my chin, alone. Thinking.
Wash me away. Take me away.
Don't leave me here, alone.

Heart AND mind:
The waves are coming closer; I smile and cross my fingers
If only they were metres high, and washed away what lingers
Draw me in, oh take me now; there's no one who would miss
A girl of seventeen who wasted all with one first kiss

What's the deal with "poets" not rhyming? That's part of the challenge! Get your feelings across, but do it cleverly!

So: born in the heart, grown in the mind.

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