Thoughts on Poetry

Honestly, after last Wednesday, I can’t say I know what poetry is. For me poetry is a series of words strung together in some form or another, which usually mean something to either the poet or the reader, or both. Also, said words should be creative and original. At least I think that is what poetry should be like. Some people think advertisements are poetic, others think only poets like Poe and Shakespeare knew what they were doing. Frankly, I think the concept of poetry is rather fluid and I wish it didn’t always have a “snooty” connotation to it. Actually, I wish I could just understand what some poets are trying to convey in their poems. Poets have all the creative freedom in the world and still I feel like I am reading the same confusion.
I feel writing has the capability of accomplishing most anything, this includes poetry. Beautiful images of being by the sea, what it is to be in love, endless metaphors and similes showing and creating emotions are a big success in poetry. Poetry has done well with being secretive and confusing as well. Poetry isn’t always my favorite thing to read simply because it is capable of so much, but often I don’t even know what I am reading. Poetry also isn’t easy. Actually, that is an understatement. Poetry is really complicated and sometime annoying. I do like poetry but I like to keep it simple.
Simple or not, poetry often has value and meaning to the poet and the reader. Its meaning is often insight into love, life, woes and other such topics pertaining to life and its surroundings. With that said, I still don’t know what poetry means. Does poetry simply mean that the author couldn’t write a story or a novel? Does poetry mean that we are a little shallow because we don’t pay attention to it? Who really knows what poetry means? All I know is that poetry is tricky but sometimes worth reading.