Poetry; More On Inspiration
As a writer I often get the same question asked of me...what inspires you to write?
Inspiration takes on many forms and comes from many places. Quite simply inspiration to write poetry comes from everyday life occurrences. Sound simplistic? Not when you consider the endless array of themes one may draw upon to write about. You could neatly package these themes into a limited selection of broad categories but the topics remain endless.
Each and every day and every moment therein brings something distinct, unique, momentous, happenings right before our eyes or at some great distance around the globe and those events, however seemingly insignificant or epic in proportion, are the makings of the thought processes that evolve into a poetic piece.
Just think of historic events that had impact over people around the globe. September 11, 2001 - although this date came about over five years ago its significance is enormous and our recall instantaneous. Close your eyes and go back to 9-1-1 and you should readily see some of the darkest, most horrific images of your lifetime....explosion, dust, terror in the streets, death, decay, ruin, fire, dense and billowing smoke, tears, sorrow, grief.
War, terrorism, innocent lives lost, destruction. Again, the list is endless. Of course there are an endless number of joyous or positive occasions and subjects to write about too. The birth of a child, a sun-filled day, fragrance in the air, two lovers uniting, the beauties of nature etc. etc.
When these events occur around us or appear before us, if we feel any sense of reaction or emotion...we have inspiration. A writer of poetry must draw upon their basic and innermost senses of realization in order to truly experience the occurrence or subject and translate those senses, emotions or observations into poetic verse.
The key to poetry is in the wording or phrases that paint a picture in the reader's mind. You have images or thoughts in your own mind which clearly define and envelope your subject to the point of vivid sensory perception...now release that striking perception through words felled upon the page that will allow your readers to experience the same visions you see, the same senses and emotions you are experiencing. When you have achieved this pictorial imagery in words you will have captivated an appreciative reading audience.
Credibility plays an important role in the creation of poetry that will truly move the reader. If you have written of an event in your own life that has had a tremendous impact on you, then you are much more genuinely inspired to write about the subject and the piece will be a much more compelling read.
Understand too that what may inspire you may not be an inspiration or interest to every reader. Still, write of those things that you have had a great sense of emotional reaction to and you can be sure that your poetry will strike at the very heart of your readers.
By focusing on a singular life situation you will find a vast array of directions you can take the subject to with a poetic piece. Take romance for instance...clearly one of the most written about subjects today in poetry or any other genre of writing. Just think of the enormous number of topics that come from this one word association. Think of the emotions that are experienced during any form of romantic encounter or relationship.
One of the most important things to remember about writing poetry is that if you write about the human experience, however good or bad, your readers will relate....and when they can relate to the point of experiencing some kind of strong emotional reaction, you are sure to draw those readers back to read more and more of your later writings.
This is the magic of poetry, the magic of inspiration.
Copyright 2006, Don MacIver at A Poet's View Blog
Inspiration takes on many forms and comes from many places. Quite simply inspiration to write poetry comes from everyday life occurrences. Sound simplistic? Not when you consider the endless array of themes one may draw upon to write about. You could neatly package these themes into a limited selection of broad categories but the topics remain endless.
Each and every day and every moment therein brings something distinct, unique, momentous, happenings right before our eyes or at some great distance around the globe and those events, however seemingly insignificant or epic in proportion, are the makings of the thought processes that evolve into a poetic piece.
Just think of historic events that had impact over people around the globe. September 11, 2001 - although this date came about over five years ago its significance is enormous and our recall instantaneous. Close your eyes and go back to 9-1-1 and you should readily see some of the darkest, most horrific images of your lifetime....explosion, dust, terror in the streets, death, decay, ruin, fire, dense and billowing smoke, tears, sorrow, grief.
War, terrorism, innocent lives lost, destruction. Again, the list is endless. Of course there are an endless number of joyous or positive occasions and subjects to write about too. The birth of a child, a sun-filled day, fragrance in the air, two lovers uniting, the beauties of nature etc. etc.
When these events occur around us or appear before us, if we feel any sense of reaction or emotion...we have inspiration. A writer of poetry must draw upon their basic and innermost senses of realization in order to truly experience the occurrence or subject and translate those senses, emotions or observations into poetic verse.
The key to poetry is in the wording or phrases that paint a picture in the reader's mind. You have images or thoughts in your own mind which clearly define and envelope your subject to the point of vivid sensory perception...now release that striking perception through words felled upon the page that will allow your readers to experience the same visions you see, the same senses and emotions you are experiencing. When you have achieved this pictorial imagery in words you will have captivated an appreciative reading audience.
Credibility plays an important role in the creation of poetry that will truly move the reader. If you have written of an event in your own life that has had a tremendous impact on you, then you are much more genuinely inspired to write about the subject and the piece will be a much more compelling read.
Understand too that what may inspire you may not be an inspiration or interest to every reader. Still, write of those things that you have had a great sense of emotional reaction to and you can be sure that your poetry will strike at the very heart of your readers.
By focusing on a singular life situation you will find a vast array of directions you can take the subject to with a poetic piece. Take romance for instance...clearly one of the most written about subjects today in poetry or any other genre of writing. Just think of the enormous number of topics that come from this one word association. Think of the emotions that are experienced during any form of romantic encounter or relationship.
One of the most important things to remember about writing poetry is that if you write about the human experience, however good or bad, your readers will relate....and when they can relate to the point of experiencing some kind of strong emotional reaction, you are sure to draw those readers back to read more and more of your later writings.
This is the magic of poetry, the magic of inspiration.
Copyright 2006, Don MacIver at A Poet's View Blog
posted by Don MacIver at
1:49 a.m.
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