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Feature Article Poetry is the universal language of our heart Author: Rose DesRochers I have always had my own ideas on what makes a good poem. But who are we really as critiques to start changing how poets should write a poem. When we read a book, do you read through the book pointing out areas, saying to ourselves; "I would have written it this way?" The same can be said about music. Do we start critiquing music and telling the artist I would have written it this way. Let's face it we have all heard songs and we have said my good gracious; I'm shocked that song made it to the top of the charts. Now back to my original question, so what is good poetry? To me good poetry should make me feel something, to grab me, to make me laugh, or make me cry or to make me happy. To me good poetry is being able to read a poem and say "Hey that is how I felt". I often say that when reading poems throughout the net. Poetry to me is being able to write my feelings down on paper. When we pick out a card be it for a birthday, wedding, anniversary or new born baby. We pick up the card and read what is inside. We want that card to say just what we feel. Therefore we choose it for the poem inside. Poetry is something we share that we give to our children and loved ones as our legacy after were gone. Our words will be what lives on. We may never become that published writer or sell a million copies of our book. However somewhere on a piece of paper scribbled will be a poem someone will hold dear. Who knows what meaning your poem will have to someone. My husband once said to me you never know maybe someone has one of your poems hanging on their wall because it means something to them and they printed it out. I never thought of it that way until painter Phil Roberts printed out a poem I wrote from one of his paintings and hung it in his daughter's bedroom. My children now write because of me. Whenever I write a new poem I ask their advice. You think they would get bored. But no instead they have picked up a pen and started writing. It is not a wonder that I hear compliments like your children express themselves well. I would like to think I had some help in teaching them that through my own poetry. I never gave much thought to how much we do share as family. Poetry gets kids learning. Through my reading they are learning to write. They are learning to express their feelings and become young adults capable of realizing their emotions. A poet once said a Good Poem Will Give You Goose Bumps! Oh how right you are. Recently a member of my website said "Some people believe that anyone can write a poem because poetry is based on what comes from the heart." It is based on what comes from the heart. Anyone can write a poem because poetry is about feeling. I write with feeling, I read with feeling and I critique with feeling. Anyone can write poetry. They just need to turn those emotions into a poem. The next time someone critiques you on a poetry workshop that your poem was not really good, not enough adjectives, abstractions and too many clichés; well you can tell them what makes a good poem because obviously they don't know. Who are we to say that poem wasn't any good because we all have our own view of a poem and how it grabs us just like music grabs us .The writing and reading is in the feeling. So if you are one of those who are asking what makes a poet a poet because some people believe that anyone can write a poem. You are right anyone can write a poem. There are no rules people. Pick up a pen and write from your heart. Poetry is about writing what you see around you or feel within you. If you are releasing your feelings then you are writing poetry. Don't sit and wait for the inspiration to come to you, pick up a pen and write. Robert Frost said "Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words." So pick up that pen and express your thoughts through this form of writing we know as poetry. What makes a poet a poet? An inner calling from your heart and soul. It is a need to express emotions. Poetry is everywhere; it is the world around us. In all of us is a poet. Poetry is the universal language of our heart. About the Author Rose DesRochers, Canada admin@todays-woman.net http://www.todays-woman.net Rose is a published author and web columnist from Canada Ontario and she is also the founder of Today's Woman a community for men and women over 18, where writers/poets/columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. ... Subscribe to our Poetry newsletter! Your email:

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