What Is Poetry?

I try to answer the impossible question. And fail.

What is poetry?

Well, you could’ve asked me an easier question, like…

…what’s pi plus the square root of infinity.

Poetry is…

everything.

Everything is poetry.

Everything around you can be a poem.

All you need is an imagination,

a will to express,

and creativity.

And some basic knowledge of symbolism and the English language.

That always helps, too.

Have those things, and you can be a poet.

Well, okay, so it’s a bit harder than that.

The best thing to do is to get your feelings down on paper�"

fast.

You never know how long it will be until you forget.

And you really can write about anything.

There are the classics.

Love.

Life.

Depression.

Beauty.

And some more true-to-life topics.

School.

Friendship.

Awkward first dates.

Annoying family members.

And the things you’re not “supposed” to write about.

Lust.

Murdering someone.

Heavy swearing.

Blowjobs. 

And the things that would make excellent poems, but no one ever writes about.

Busses.

The Laundromat.

Computer difficulties.

Toes.

You can write a poem about, quite literally, anything.

Even blowjobs.

So, what is poetry?

I’m gonna be honest.

I have no flippin’ clue.

But that doesn’t stop me.

And it shouldn’t stop you, either.

So, you know what?

I don’t usually do this, but what the hell.

You need all the help you can get.

Here’s a notepad and a pen.

Feel free to keep those.

I’ll lend you my creative mind�"

but I want that back!

Here’s a bit of inspiration…

no need to return that, plenty to go around.

Now, off you go.

Go write.

Go express.

Go think.

Go be a poet.

Something tells me you're gonna be a great one.

Author's Note

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