Express Yourself

Photo from: Silver Lining Accessories (Word Press)

Poetry has often been described as rhyming words  together in such a fashion that it creates a painting within a person's mind. Although poetry may consist of simple words with hidden meanings, and portray various points of view on a subject, the ultimate goal of a poem is to express one's self in a creative out-of-the-box way. This doesn't mean a poet needs to create something intentionally abstract and confusing (even though some poets do), but they need to feel free to write in whatever way they wish. Poetry is intended to be an art form unlike perfection and more like a story. It has a beginning, some content within the center, and an ending. 

One of the most common phrases I hear about writing poetry is: "I'm not good with English," or "You're really talented, I wish I could do that." The truth of the matter is anyone can write poetry. It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to make any sense, and you don't need to be an all star writer to do it. I will admit that it sounds a bit naive to say this, but poetry isn't some higher power that is only achievable through years of training. A poem is as good as the writer wants it to be. 

Tip: Feel free to break the rules, and tread dangerous waters when you write.  

E.E. Cummings is perhaps one of the best known poets for his rule breaking poetics. 

As you can see, this poem is by no means perfect according to grammatical standards. The style that Cummings uses here is called "aesthetic movement." It isn't about the order of things that matters, but the art form itself. Of course not all poems are like this (and most do remain traditional), but this style is the perfect tool for starting poets to get out of their comfort zone. It gives the writer an opportunity to be a free-bird, and ultimately allows them to realize what kind of poet they really are.

Tip: Build your own style and feel comfortable with what you're writing.