Writing poetry can have many benefits for the person willing to engage the process. So, when we ask the question “Why should we write poetry?” there are many ways to answer it. We can use it to express strong emotions, tell mini-stories, and describe something inspiring or just downright interesting. Writing poetry can also give the writer a sense of satisfaction–over the creation and the completion of finishing writings from the heart.
Express an emotion
Because we are struck with feelings that are recurring, all-encompassing, distressing, or elating, we are often also in need of a way to express them. Poetry writing is a perfect outlet for tackling emotions. When we take the time to journal, for example, we can often work through how we’re interpreting a situation or experience. Taking that practice and turning it into a succinct piece of creative writing is therapeutic.
Poets are skilled at using figurative language, which is another way to illustrate a feeling. Taking everyday things such as an animal, a spider web, a house, a stream, a clock, a song, etc. and creating a metaphor or a simile to describe a heartfelt emotion can offer a comparison even more powerful than a description alone. It’s also a beautiful way to make someone understand how much of an impact an experience has had on you. That someone may even be yourself.
Tell a story
Poetry has been used as a story telling device for centuries. Narrative or epic poetry, follows a character on a heroic journey. These types of poems in particular are long–really long. But modern day poetry can also tell stories, even short ones. It doesn’t have to have a character who goes through one challenging event after another like an epic poem would. It only needs to have a beginning, middle, and end.
A great example of this type of modern day poem is “Oranges” by Mexican American writer Gary Soto. In this poem the narrator is recounting the date he had with a young woman. He doesn’t have much money–just some change and some oranges. In the end he uses what he has to pay for the girl’s piece of candy at the corner store. Surprisingly, the store clerk accepts the payment. Doesn’t that sound like a mini-story you’d like to read?
The satisfaction of creation and completion
If you’re the type of person who won’t start a project because you don’t think you’ll have enough time to see it through, writing poetry could be for you. Instead of just thinking about all the things you could make or create, why not try this one? Because a poem can be pretty short–even a couple of lines, you can experience the satisfaction of actually materializing something.
Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
Completing anything creative gives the creator such a feeling of accomplishment. It gives a person a way to trust themselves. They know they can follow through, which gives them confidence to do more or try again. No matter how lofty your goals are, writing a poem may be the thing to get you moving in the right direction.
Give poetry writing a chance
Writing poetry is for you if you are a person who notices the small things around you. It’s also for you if you find yourself taken aback by experiences, thoughts, and emotions. A poem is probably the shortest piece of creative writing you can complete. It’s a chance for you show up for yourself–whether that’s as a writer, a story teller, or even as your personal therapist. My course, Poetry Writing Made Simple: From Idea to Poem in 10 Easy Steps will get you started if you’re not sure where to begin. I’ll show you how to take an idea (I’m sure you have lots of them), and turn that idea into a finished poem.
