Poetry. It allows a person to communicate their emotions in a manner that words alone cannot. 

Many people overlook poetry’s inherent beauty, but April is National Poetry Month, and we should all take the time to appreciate it.

Poetry dates back tens of thousands of years, and it first emerged on clay tablets and cave paintings. Poetry was utilized by ancient civilizations to tell stories, as well as for rituals and chantings. Different cultures have different forms of poetry, which can teach us a lot about the ideals and values of those societies. Although poetry has been around for a long time, National Poetry Month was first celebrated in 1996 and was brought to life by the Academy of American Poets. 

Originally, poems often dealt with religious and romantic themes, but poetry has evolved and been altered over time to become what we now “consider” poetry. Poems nowadays cover a wide range of topics, from important life-changing issues to lighthearted ones, and they all serve as a form of self-expression. 

Freshman Edith Ung said, “I think that writing poetry can be a great way to communicate to others how you feel. Reading poetry allows you to understand how others feel about different topics which I find very interesting!”  

Whether you like poetry or not, reading and writing poems can present you with a variety of benefits. Poetry is recognized as a therapeutic hobby, as it can help with expressing certain feelings and emotions such as grief, anger, and fear in a healthy way. It can also serve as a way to express strong opinions and thoughts. Along with therapeutic healing, writing poetry can give you a greater sense of self-awareness as well. It allows you to be in tune with your feelings which can help you understand yourself on a higher level. 

Freshman Deeptha Jayasimha shares her thoughts on poetry, stating, “Poetry is a large field of literature and I enjoy how many poems reflect on a specific emotion or vibe. There is always a poem written someplace that expresses how you feel. You can write poems about how you’re feeling at certain moments.”

Poetry is a very versatile activity, and while there is no right or wrong approach to writing poetry, understanding the various types of poems will help you along your poetry path. The following are some of the most popular types of poems:

Haiku

Haiku is a type of poetry that originated in Japan. The poem has three lines with a total of 17 syllables. The first line contains 5 syllables, the second has seven, and the third has 5. Although Haiku’s normally do not follow a rhyme scheme, they are nonetheless lovely poems to read and write.

Acrostic

You’ve almost definitely seen the Acrostic poem at some point throughout your academic career. These poems are playful and depend heavily on creativity. An acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word. The poem is generally based on the word formed by the letters. Acrostic poems are simpler than most poems, making them easier to understand and write.

Free Verse

Free verse poems, unlike Haiku and Acrostic poems, have no set rules. They promote self-expression and creativity without requiring a rhyming system or pattern. 

Whether you are bored or simply have a burst of creativity, consider writing or reading a poem because maybe you might actually enjoy it.

Happy National Poetry Month!

Photo Courtesy of FLICKR