What poetry means to me.

Today is world poetry day, and to stay on theme, I wanted to discuss what poetry means to me.

My interest in poetry dates back to my middle school days which doesn’t feel like too long ago but it has been (insert sad emoji face lol). My english teacher, Mr. Gordon, assigned a poetry collection using the themes from the novels we read. There were different types of poems we had to write such as acrostic, haiku, sonnet and free verse. I took that assignment very seriously, to say the least. I got a 98 on it, he took off 2 points for something so minor, I was annoyed but at the same time so proud of those little poems I created. I still have this assignment tucked away with the rest of the special possessions I have kept throughout the years. That poetry collection is my little time machine to that time of my life. I can remember the inspiration I drew from to pen them, the day I handed it in, how accomplished I felt.

I would like to end this post by completing the following sentences:

• Poetry teaches..

Poetry teaches appreciation for one’s emotions and/or thoughts.

• Poetry heals..

Poetry heals by creating something beautiful in spite of pain or sadness.

• To be a poet…

To be a poet, is to undress your soul and be comfortable with displaying your vulnerability.

I wrote this poem in the spur of the moment, I was going for a haiku but of course I had more to say lol….

Pen to paper

A glimpse into my soul.

Another dimension, intricate and yet simple.

Bleeding ink, fueled by emotion.

A cathartic remedy.

This song is a mood. Jhené is one of my favorite poets/songwriters. I listen to her whenever I need inspiration to write a poem, and her music always comes through.