If you are someone who loves to romanticize your day, April is one that you should to reach for, where the first signs of spring come in buds and flowers
And if you ever had the urge to write prose on April’s weather, well try poetry. After all, it’s National Poetry Month.
Poetry does not ask much of the beginning writer and the non-readers at all. All it asks is that you settle in with a deep breath, slow down and take in its meaning. It’s not even asking for 20 minutes of your time. Any poetry book is usually very slim since it’s possible to fit a multitude of poems in a small amount of pages.
And poetry is a whimsy and spontaneous way of sparking some creativity in the daily, tedious routines. In an age of artificial intelligence — where introspection and creativity is being traded for computer codes and imitated emotions — we may just need the break poetry brings.
Even if the art’s not done “correctly” — according to any harsh critic or lover of iambic pentameter you may find — finding less structured ways to play with our imagination and creativity needs to be cherished.
Many online platforms, such as the Poetry Foundation, will send free poems to you via email, or by simply following them for free. Not only is it an excellent opportunity for getting into reading, you can learn something new and interesting about the craft, its history or any fascinating rabbit hole it leads you into. My favorite poet, Emily Dickinson wrote some of her poems on French chocolate wrappers, and the backs of recipes.
Poetry doesn’t have to be from Emily Dickinson. It’s a rhythm of words and syllables that mean something important. Think of your favorite song and only read the lyrics without listening to it.
Everything is poetic in poetry like they inherently are in fiction. The intention, layout, sonics, and message is all up to the author.
So find your own niche somewhere that brings you a suspicious amount of joy, and write about it.
The opinions desk can be reached at opinions@ubspectrum.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Finn Mingle
