Poetryshowsusastrongpowerandmakesusfeelsubtleemotion.Itmaybereadlikenosense,butifwebeawareofitsinnerfunctionbyoursoul,itwillhelpsdefineourrespongsestothem.HerryJamescalledpoetryasthefeltsenseoflife.
Therearemanyfamouspoetrysthatwe`llneverforgetaroundtheworld.Weheraditfrombooks,teachersandevenhistory.Forcenturiespeoplehavetriedtodefineandcharacterizepoetryinmanydifferentways.Thefollowingquotationmaysuggestpartofthefeaturesofpoetry.
WhatisPoetry?WhoKnows?
Notarose,butthescentoftherose;
Notthesky,butthelightinthesky;
Notthefly,butthegleamofthefly;
Notthesea,butthesoundofthesea;
Notmyself,butwhatmakesme
See,hear,andfeelsomethingthatprose
Cannot:andwhatitis,whoknows?
byEleanorFarjeon(1881-1965)