The Purpose of Poetry

Our poetry assignment this week was to read a poem, and then write our own. Regarding what we feel the purpose of poetry is.

The purpose of poetry is to open our eyes

to the greater world surrounding us.

To remind us to stop and smell the roses,

to show us something we otherwise may have missed.

The purpose of poetry is to further our experiences,

to expand our horizons.

To remind us that some rules in our lives

really are meant to be broken.

The purpose of poetry is to force us to think,

to look past the surface and into the heart of the matter.

Words that seem so confusing at first

hold a universe of meaning beneath them.

The purpose of poetry is to paint us a picture

or sing us a song.

Without ever pulling forth the palette,

or uttering a single note.

The purpose of poetry is to tell a story

one that will pull at your heart and soul.

The story, often, is not in what you read,

but in all that is left unsaid.

The purpose of poetry is more than anyone can put into words,

it is joy and love, sorrow and anger, every emotion and none all at once.

The purpose of poetry is to capture life.

Wherever it may dwell.