More Than A BandAid (or Understanding The Heart Of A Poet)

[FireFeet]

Most people, when they are injured, apply a Band-Aid and call it done. For a poet, however, the experience is something of more passion, more mystery, more depth. A poet feels compelled to examine the wound and contemplate its ugly beauty. They must taste its saltiness, smell its death portent, and even listen as it whispers of hidden secrets. They feel driven to probe and discover how deep the pain is. A poet must not only feel the pain but identify with it and become one with it. They feel driven to examine the cause and the reason for the injury. They see it not as a simple occurrence but seek for the tentacles by which it is attached to all wounds ever incurred. To the poet, it is not a simple scraping of flesh, but something profoundly abstract that is intricately interwoven with analogies through the ages.

[justonevoice]

All I can say is wow. What a picture of the heart of poetry!

[dublinheart]

Deep. Deep, Deep stuff! Oh, what a definition of poetry. You defined it quite adequately. Why, why, why are we destined to feel so intensely, so deeply, so painfully, and so totally? Tell me that, please!

[FireFeet]

I actually wrote that to reply to someone who was concerned about the dark nature of my most recent poems. It is so difficult to express to someone without a poetic heart the depths that we must descend to in order to find release and healing.

I wonder what it is like to not be burdened with the poetic heart, wonder "why are we destined to feel so intensely, so deeply, so painfully, and so totally?" What is it like to live a simple life where things happen and you go on, without having to ache and weep and ruminate and by masterful weaving of powerful words craft potions of healing for your soul?

[rodojeki]

There is a world, a universe inside us. those who are gifted in the art of writing have been given the tools to pulmb those depths, not everyone has these tools. We have the ability to go into ourselves and test the deeps in which life takes rise and find it at its source...that is where we create....it is taking that destiny upon yourself to bear it , it's burden and its greatness without ever asking what recompense might come from it...as the creator of the poem, you become everything that you have attached yourself to....and in that submission to the very core of your being, there is release of those passions until your every breath reveals, feels and moves the heart and soul to new heights....we call it poetry.....it is where we become whole.

Donna

[dublinheart]

Oh, is that the reason? ;)

That explains it very well, Donna. I knew you would have the answer! :)

[Angelpen]

Wow, that is a great definition! That is really well written.

[dbrianshafer]

I didnt realize how deep we are in here...in emotional intensity, I mean :)