Monday, April 4, 2016

#InkRipples-Poetry



Poetry. The art of using as few words as possible to create a a feeling in the reader. An art that can create powerful feelings that last a lifetime.

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." 

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

These two famous poems are the first to come to mind when I think of poetry. The first, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, has always spoken to the romantic in me. Who wouldn't want to be told all the ways that someone loved them?

The second, by Robert Frost, is the poem that most defines poetry for me. The imagery used by Mr. Frost painted a pictured of the road in the woods, and the two different paths he could choose from. With just one hundred and fort-four words, Mr. Frost painted an image within my mind that has stayed with me since the first time I heard this poem.

I am not a poet. I cannot seem to find the way to paint my pictures with so few words. Those who have the ability to craft such powerful images with so few words amaze and humble me.

How about you? Do you have a favorite poem or poet? Share who/what in the comments. Do you write poetry? Share a few lines for us to enjoy.


Ripples in the Inkwell is a themed meme hosted by Katie L. Carroll, Kai Strand, and me, Mary Waibel. We post on the first Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on the #InkRipples tab above, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation.


9 comments:

  1. I love this definition of poetry. Moving the heart, that's what's most important. I've written poetry in the past, mostly during my teen years. But I'm surely no master at it. I'd love to get back to it someday.

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    1. Thanks Sheri!

      I'd love to read your poems and hope you find time to work on more soon!

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  2. As I displayed on my post today - not a poet ;) I love Frost's poem I sang it with my choir. One of my favorite arrangements. Here is a link to the Boise State choir performing it: http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=The+Road+not+Taken+-+Randall+Thompson&vid=c45b7954af39b1ad4ed9b46e865debcd&turl=http%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.V5682131d4adb5d253f1afab5a1c7a016%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D122%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DahjYPkA1QYc&tit=%26quot%3BThe+Road+Not+Taken%26quot%3B+by+Randall+Thompson&c=4&h=122&w=300&l=294&sigr=11bb6tvm8&sigt=11ishf5fj&sigi=1311g5c0q&back=http%3A%2F%2Fus.yhs4.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3DThe%2BRoad%2Bnot%2BTaken%2B-%2BRandall%2BThompson%26fr%3Dgoodsearch-yhsif%26param1%3D937074670%26ei%3DUTF-8&sigb=140fck50m&ct=p&age=1375223354&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&&tt=b

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    1. I'll have to check that version out. Thanks for sharing it Kai!

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  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  4. I have written some poetry through the years and even had some poems published. In recent years, though, I seem to be mostly into novels and short stories. I, too loved the definition of poetry above:
    The art of using as few words as possible to create a a feeling in the reader." A beautiful summing up.

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. And congrats on the published poems!!

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  5. I'm a poetry person, but mostly Haiku and Emily get to me. e.e. Cummings is another favorite and Ferlinghetti never left my heart. I'll be posting my #InkRipples on my G post for the #atozChallenge this year. That's April 8 this year. Hope you'll stop by.

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