It is unfortunate how many people ignore poetry. Is it that they think poetry is meaningless contrivance of words? Or do they consider it an archaic art form with no relevance to them? Or have they just not looked far enough to find poetry that resonates with them?
Poetry can create beauty as intricate and evocative as a painting. Emotions and ideas that are otherwise impossible to put into words can emerge from the lines of a poem. A poem can make a casual observation memorable, crystallize a fleeting moment. Poetry can change the way you see the world.
I'm not sure when I began to love poetry, but I remember dictating song lyrics to my mother before I could write. For years I read poetry without writing my own, or writing poetry in secret. As much as I loved great poetry, I believed my own was doggerel. It improved after I read the book The Ode Less Travelled by the British humorist Stephen Fry, which contained explanations and examples of some of the most common poetic forms. That and the encouragement of my beloved late professor Doug Wright gave me to confidence to start sharing my poetry with others. And so I am writing this blog, not just as a place for my own poetry, but to share my passion for poetry.
