Poetry Is Anything and Everything by Katherine Kelliher

Poetry is anything and everything.

Abstract ideas fill the mind and then empty out; filling  a blank page, line after line.  When the thoughts stop flowing, we stop writing and call it poetry. Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and Maya Angelou inspire minds and spirits alike, with awe for their written word.  Bob Dylan’s lyrics are often noted for their poetic undertones. These selected few are known world-wide for their ability to capture hearts.

A well-written composition of words resonates. The mind understands, the heart ignites, and then we call it poetry.

Poetry is harmony. It is a meal crafted to perfection. The flavors, textures and smells harmonize together to form one cohesive delicacy.

A poem is a combination of passions and thoughts derived from the right side of the mind. This side contains bundles of colors, images, sights, and sounds flourishing together, every second of every day.

The ending sounds and syllables do not have to rhyme. Children’s ideas of poetry are skewed at a young age by teachers reciting “roses are red violets are blue”.

Poetry is a process. Think of pouring a glass of wine. One does not simply pour a glass of wine and drink it. Poetry needs to occur, first. The poem begins when the wine bottle is opened;  the bottle stands alone to take its first breath; we pour the wine into a glass and observe its complexion, perhaps a smokey red or a sweet white;  we slosh the wine around in the glass to release the built-up flavors; we let the aroma fill our nostrils, further intoxicating our senses and then finally, the wine wets our tongue.

Poetry wakens our inner spirit. Experiencing inner peace and feeling one with the earth can heighten our senses. A connection between the body, mind and spirit is poetry.

Walking along the water, the wind lightly lifting our hair, toes buried in the sand, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the scent of fresh sea salt in the air, that is poetry.

Dance is poetry in motion. The body moving to the beat and rhythm of music is magical. Whether the music is slow and sensual or fast and sharp, dancers mold their bodies to the sound and interpret the poetry.

Without poetry, people scuffle through the robotic motions of life. Poetry keeps us alive; alive with hope, alive with emotion, alive with wonder.