Poetry; Bare Your Soul
For those who aspire to write, whether it be poetry, a short story, a novel, whatever the genre, you have to find the formula, that combination of words that truly defines self-expression in a way that speaks to your readers in ways so profound that their own personal experience mirrors that of your own. What will their ultimate reading experience render...a shared sense of sadness, elation, longing, fantasy?
As a writer what you create in your writing serves little purpose unless the reader shares the emotions, the experience that you wish to convey. I have discovered as a writer that words ring hollow unless you are conveying personal experience. When you embellish upon personal experience only then can the reader truly relate to the words that you share.
A few short years ago I, almost quite by accident, began to explore the highly personal expressions of poetry, deeply personal because I was sharing the loss of a loved one so close that to put my feelings into words as they related to this loss seemed unimaginable to share with others. Yet, I felt a powerful sense of overwhelming inspiration at a time when I sensed my life to be at a very low point, a turning point perhaps, at which time I somehow felt that sharing such words would ultimately act as some sort of comfort or reassurance to those who have had a similar experience. The response I received in return was indeed overwhelming...and unexpected.
What is it about poetry that creates a bond between writer and their readers? I discovered very quickly that for one to read in explicit detail what one has experienced that has affected their lives in very profound ways creates a mutual respect, admiration, sympathy, or empathy that is quite unparalelled in other forms of writing.
I became associated with a poetry forum on the internet. At first I had a great sense of apprehension about what I conveyed in writing online. Before long though I discovered that fellow writers and devoted readership shared something very special....emotions that previously were suppressed, locked away for no-one to see, to witness, to share and respond to. I had never dreamed that posting poetry on the internet could generate such a powerful communicative response from such a wide and diverse reading audience. To received accolades from fellow writers from around the globe was both gratifying and truly inspiring .
In order to reach your reading audience it is of critical importance that you relay actual personal experience. The only way a reader can truly experience the emotions the writer wishes to conver is if the reader believes the experience to be genuine. Reciprocate what you as the writer have experienced and you are well on your way to a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with your reading audience. Establish a sense of ligitimacy with your readers and you will have them coming back for more time and again.
Be your own strongest critic. Read what you have written over and over and examine what senses or emotions your writing triggers. Do you have a sense of sadness, joy, eroticism, mystique, love, conviction? What do you feel after reading your own writing? If something is lacking then the piece needs re-writing until you are satisfied that the desired emotions are triggered.
Whether it be a piece about political statement, a romantic tryst, a mournful departure, a nature scene, an expression of loss etc. it has to be crafted in a way that will trigger the senses of the reader in a way that leaves them feeling a sense of fulfillment, a desire to return to read more. Few forms of writing achieve this type of personal response as with poetry.
Here I will experiment with a few verses. See what you share in reading these words:
Glistening pine cones quiver in breeze
Dawn's early sunrise bathing tree limbs
Mist stills the air in calmness of light
A songbird chirups, breaking silence
Lonliness tears at my being once more
Forever drifting, the loss that I grieve
Forgive my remiss, repent of my sins
I long for you, seek of you desperately
Smoke rising from ruins, ashes remain
Conflict of vengence, dead resting within
The stench of decay does castigate fear
Silenced eyes search for an unanswered prayer
Know where you're going with your writing. Explore in advance what you seek to achieve. Be objective...is what you have written moving you to explore what message lays within? Do tears well up as the words unfold? Sometimes poetry takes several writings to refine. Don't write with haste. Write with passion and honesty.
Write poetry from the heart, from the soul.
Copyright 2006, Don MacIver
A Poet's View
As a writer what you create in your writing serves little purpose unless the reader shares the emotions, the experience that you wish to convey. I have discovered as a writer that words ring hollow unless you are conveying personal experience. When you embellish upon personal experience only then can the reader truly relate to the words that you share.
A few short years ago I, almost quite by accident, began to explore the highly personal expressions of poetry, deeply personal because I was sharing the loss of a loved one so close that to put my feelings into words as they related to this loss seemed unimaginable to share with others. Yet, I felt a powerful sense of overwhelming inspiration at a time when I sensed my life to be at a very low point, a turning point perhaps, at which time I somehow felt that sharing such words would ultimately act as some sort of comfort or reassurance to those who have had a similar experience. The response I received in return was indeed overwhelming...and unexpected.
What is it about poetry that creates a bond between writer and their readers? I discovered very quickly that for one to read in explicit detail what one has experienced that has affected their lives in very profound ways creates a mutual respect, admiration, sympathy, or empathy that is quite unparalelled in other forms of writing.
I became associated with a poetry forum on the internet. At first I had a great sense of apprehension about what I conveyed in writing online. Before long though I discovered that fellow writers and devoted readership shared something very special....emotions that previously were suppressed, locked away for no-one to see, to witness, to share and respond to. I had never dreamed that posting poetry on the internet could generate such a powerful communicative response from such a wide and diverse reading audience. To received accolades from fellow writers from around the globe was both gratifying and truly inspiring .
In order to reach your reading audience it is of critical importance that you relay actual personal experience. The only way a reader can truly experience the emotions the writer wishes to conver is if the reader believes the experience to be genuine. Reciprocate what you as the writer have experienced and you are well on your way to a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with your reading audience. Establish a sense of ligitimacy with your readers and you will have them coming back for more time and again.
Be your own strongest critic. Read what you have written over and over and examine what senses or emotions your writing triggers. Do you have a sense of sadness, joy, eroticism, mystique, love, conviction? What do you feel after reading your own writing? If something is lacking then the piece needs re-writing until you are satisfied that the desired emotions are triggered.
Whether it be a piece about political statement, a romantic tryst, a mournful departure, a nature scene, an expression of loss etc. it has to be crafted in a way that will trigger the senses of the reader in a way that leaves them feeling a sense of fulfillment, a desire to return to read more. Few forms of writing achieve this type of personal response as with poetry.
Here I will experiment with a few verses. See what you share in reading these words:
Glistening pine cones quiver in breeze
Dawn's early sunrise bathing tree limbs
Mist stills the air in calmness of light
A songbird chirups, breaking silence
Lonliness tears at my being once more
Forever drifting, the loss that I grieve
Forgive my remiss, repent of my sins
I long for you, seek of you desperately
Smoke rising from ruins, ashes remain
Conflict of vengence, dead resting within
The stench of decay does castigate fear
Silenced eyes search for an unanswered prayer
Know where you're going with your writing. Explore in advance what you seek to achieve. Be objective...is what you have written moving you to explore what message lays within? Do tears well up as the words unfold? Sometimes poetry takes several writings to refine. Don't write with haste. Write with passion and honesty.
Write poetry from the heart, from the soul.
Copyright 2006, Don MacIver
A Poet's View
posted by Don MacIver at
12:28 a.m.
2 Comments:
Ive read throug some of your blog entries, they are inspiring, and encouraging. I love writhing poetry, but alas, as you mentioned people do, I often find mysef churning out a poem, rather than striving for absolute perfection -thanks
"Just Another Girl" stated that she churned out a poem, rather than striving for sbsolute perfection. I myself do not believe that perfection is required. If one truly writes from the heart and the Reader is able to experience the same emotions that the Writer felt as it was penned, then it is perfection. Anyone can place words on paper, but it is the true Poet/Writer, that can express from the heart and then be felt by all who read it.
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