What Poetry Teaches Us About Life
Reading and writing poetry may not be a daily activity for many, but the art form has more to offer than most realize. Even the most educated man or woman can learn something from poetry.
Here are seven things poetry can teach us about life:
Be unique.
What it means: Sometimes we are too focused on being popular and give up being ourselves. Instead, just be yourself and good things will happen.
How it's taught: Poetry that is the same as others, using the same theme, same rhyme scheme, same rhythm is always overlooked and never popular. If the writing is unique, readers notice and always appreciate.
Don't worry about the small things.
What it means: In life sometimes we spend too much time paying attention to the small things instead of focusing on the greater goal of happiness. Focus on happiness and don't worry as much as the small things.
How it's taught: Punctuation, capitalization, and even spelling words correctly isn't necessary. Just ask Langston Hughes and E.E. Cummings. Instead, focus on the more important aspects.
Nature is beautiful.
What it means: Even the most poisonous snake, the oldest tree, and the most deformed insect is beautiful if you look hard enough.
How it's taught: Robert Frost is a master of making the not so beautiful sound beautiful. Even if you don't appreciate the outdoors, you can see the beauty it holds by reading Frost's poetry.
Creation is as beautiful as the result.
What it means: Although the result is generally the only part seen, the actual creation of said product is just as magical. Don't overlook how much sweat, love, and curse words one man has put into the products creation.
How it's taught: When writing poetry we go through many different phases. Creating the theme, selecting a style, rough draft, execution, and then criticism. The amount of work put into each is art, and many poets get satisfaction from finishing a poem alone, not counting the pleasure from those who read/hear it.
Imagination can result in greatness.
What it means: Having an imagination is an important part of life. As we grow older we begin to think of imagination as a child's toy, but in reality without imagination our society as we know it wouldn't exist.
How it's taught: Without imagination poetry isn't possible, at least great poetry isn't. Being able to use metaphors, similes, and choosing the right style isn't possible without imagination.
Everything is art.
What it means: Even the lines on a piece of paper can be seen as a work of art. Art is all around us, yet often ignored. Just because something is simple or different doesn't mean it should be discarded or ignored.
How it's taught: Dada became a popular art form in the late 19-teens and even became a popular poetic art form. What is dada? Exactly as the word sounds. It is a bunch of cowapopa caca do way do moka beans. What did I just say? Exactly.
Being successful leads to afterlife.
What it means: After we are gone those who are left on Earth will remember us, but for how long? The more successful we are the longer our ancestors will remember us.
How it's taught: The story of Troy has immortalized several of the periods otherwise forgotten lives of Odysseus, Homer, and Archilles. Without the success of the city itself the story would have never been told. Likewise, if Odysseus and Archilles were not successful in both life and war the story would be forgotten.