OPINION
Poetry: The music of words

April is national Poetry Month. The Academy of American Poetry month brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.

The dictionary defines poetry as the "art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts." But poetry is more than just rhyming. In fact, poetry doesn't even have to rhyme. The main ingrediants are movement and sound. These two things along with feeling make up what poetry is.

All of us are familiar with the sentimental poetry of greeting cards, or the image-filled lyrics of our favorite songs. Presidential inaugurations always include a commissioned poem from one of our best writers, and many of our most sacred traditions are enhanced with poetry.

Writing poetry has always been about emotion; thrilling, bitterness and even humorous. Although it sounds simple enough, it isn't always. Poetry can be as complicated or as frivolousas possible, it's all up to the author. Here are few pointers: (http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/poetry-tips.php)

Show all senses. A genuine poem offers its readers a variety of senses to endure while reading.

Smell. Give the readers a mental smell of the scene
Touch. Is it rough, smooth, pleasurable?
Sight. What does it look like?
Hearing. Does it screech? Does it yelp? Or is it smoothing and sensual?
Taste. Is it salty or bitter?

Have a point. Why are you writing? What is it about? Say what you want to say, but still let your readers decide on what the true meaning is.

Have rhythm. To be considered a poem, a writing must have rhythm.. This doesn't mean the poem has to have the same number of syllables every line or even every other. It means to allow the reader not to get tongue twisted while going line to line. Give it flow.

Don't rhyme unless it fits. Not all poems rhyme, in fact the majority do not. Many amateur writers tend to force rhymes where it doesn't need to be.

Give the poem characteristics. A poem doesn't always have to fit inside a genre. Make it your own style. Use as much voice as possible. Show that there is a person behind the poem.

We have several published poets from the Colorado Springs area. You can find a short bibliography and samples of their work at http://colopoets.unco.edu/poets/southern.html

Spend a little time this month thinking about your favorite poems, and share them with others.

Bonnie Nelson is a freelance writer living in Fountain, CO. If you have comments or questions email her at waltbon@comcast.net

CONTACT THE WRITER • waltbon@comcast.net