article from JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008
Consider the Poet in You
Yes, roses are red. And yes, violets are blue. But what does any of this have to do with you?
BY SAMUEL C. BAXTER
Today’s Information Age has made it much easier to waste time on mindless activities that require little thought or reasoning: ceaselessly texting, IMing friends, playing video games, watching television series, spending endless hours surfing the Internet.
But think: What if these were taken away?
You would be stuck sitting at home. Besides school or a part-time job, what would you do with your extra time? Sleep away your days? How would you fill your schedule?
Sadly, much of this recent technology has robbed us of the time to sit and think, to analyze and learn.
If you were without your laptop, cellphone or MP3 player, how would you fill your time?
Have you considered poetry—a tool that has been used for millennia?
No, writing poetry is not something that should occupy all of your time. Doing anything too often is unbalanced and unhealthy.
However, learning to think like a poet will help you to grow and fully enjoy life.
“Why should I care?”
When most think of poetry, one of three extreme stereotypes probably comes to mind: following rigid rules and complex rhyming schemes, solely written by pretentious “high-minded” types to prove how intellectual they are; or, trite, overused poems such as “roses are red…”; or dismal, dirge-like poems scribbled into notebooks by the depressed.
Poetry is not simply haikus and “he loves me nots.” Poetry is condensing what you have seen, imagined and experienced to better understand and learn from events in your life. It also includes the art of composing words so they flow in a rhythm, helping others to fully grasp the idea you are conveying.
Typically, if you were to ask someone if he could be a poet, he might answer No! I haven’t lived a very exciting life. What do I have to write about?
There are only two reasons someone would say such a thing: (1) He doesn’t do anything. Without going outside and getting a little dirty, reading a book, watching a documentary, building a model airplane or baking a cake, there will be nothing to write about; or (2) he is simply too busy filling his time with activities, not taking time to stop, look and consider.
Poetry starts with watching and analyzing events around you. It is a way to learn from mistakes, triumphs and trials, and helps you to better communicate with others.
It Worked Then—It Will Work Now
Looking back through history, people often remembered, analyzed and taught through poetry. Many of the books of the Bible are written in a poetic style: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
Imagine: A tiny worker ant is carrying the comparatively enormous carcass of a bumblebee. Slowly, the tiny insect muscles the huge load along the ground, laboring endlessly to tote her burden even a few feet. Next to this creature, Solomon, the powerful and wealthy king of Israel, is crouched, intently peering down on this amazing display of strength. Fascinated, the king stoops lower, examining every move, every twitch, of the six-legged insect.
Later, King Solomon declared, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (Prov. 6:6).
Most rulers would have trampled over this wonder of creation. What king would take the time to scrutinize a trail of puny ants?
However, by thoroughly examining this creature, Solomon was able to learn and record an important lesson, one for all time. He could have simply said, “Hey, don’t be lazy.” Instead, he was able to use an example from what he observed and explain an important lesson in a more effective way.
This is where inquisitiveness comes in to play. Remember back to when you were a child. Each day there was something new, whether it was blowing dandelion seeds or using a blade of grass to make a whistle. Do you simply breeze past the proverbial dandelions and blades of grass? Or do you take time to study how an acorn grows into an oak tree? How the piston operates in a car engine? Why a bird can fly?
The Poet in All of Us
Quite obviously, none of us are William Shakespeare, Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson—we are not all brilliant poets.
But realize that many of the great servants of God wrote poems and songs, including Moses, Miriam, Joseph, Deborah, Daniel, King David and others. In addition, many of the New Testament writers used poetic language to give instructions. All these men were inspired by God to record His Word in this manner.
The simple exercise of writing some of the day’s details will help to expand your thinking and ability to communicate. Consider using a notebook. Think of it as a “photograph album” of memories and events you would like to remember in detail. Learn to write using expression.
Even simple events can be used to expand your thinking. For example, did your cat simply awaken from a nap and walk over to drink some water? Not at all! Rather, it lolled about on sun-warmed ceramic tiles, while spots of shadows danced across the cat and the kitchen floor. The feline gracefully rolled to its feet and gently padded across the floor. Lazily and deliberately, it lapped at its water dish.
Look for examples of poetry. It will take practice. Examine creation; write about a sunset or a thunderstorm. Use these examples to help you learn lessons from life. Emulate some of the styles and techniques from poetry and literature you read.
Always remember to slow down and think; be inquisitive and aware. Learn from life; do not just aimlessly wander through it.
By meditating on and examining a day’s activities, you are teaching yourself to enjoy and live a more productive life. It should be clear that to write poetry you do not have to be in love, or depressed, or an “intellectual.” There is a poet in you!
Poetry Techniques
Here are some simple techniques to help you begin writing poetry and make your writing more effective. These will aid you in presenting lessons and images in a way that is both pleasing to the ear and memorable.
- Repetition: To drive a central theme home, poems can be based around a phrase that is repeated throughout. Psalm 136 is a perfect example of this. After each line, King David writes, “His mercy endures forever.” Over the course of the psalm, he repeats this phrase 26 times!
- Poetic Imagery: By speaking with colorful language, lessons and points can be better remembered. Invoking a word picture strengthens what you are trying to convey. Much of the Bible is written in this manner. The New Testament book of Jude is a wonderful example of poetic language. Also note Psalm 73:9: “They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.” Obviously a tongue cannot walk. When broken down, it seems absurd. A tongue—with legs—roaming the streets!?! But this image, and the lesson it teaches, sticks in your mind.
- Look to Examples: Read some books of poetry. Begin with classic poets. Emulate the techniques you admire. Some prefer rhyme and meter structures; others use a freeform approach. Your poetry can be as unique as you are!
- Practice: Simply writing down what you have experienced each day allows time to think and analyze more effectively. Also, the old adage “practice makes perfect” comes into play. The more you write, the better you will be.