The Beautiful Art of Poetry

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A popular yet anonymous quote states that there is not a worse blind than someone who does not want to see. If we could interpret this quote by going deeper than its simple denotation, we might empathize with the whole meaning of seeing further than an eye could see –in other words: even a blind person could see without using his physical vision. Similar to this quote, poetry is all about digging deeper into the meanings of its words, and observing beyond a simple sight. In order to recognize the beautiful art of poetry we should accept and appreciate that even if a poem is no longer than a few words, it could have contrasting significations between individuals. Using George Gordon, Lord Byron’s ‘She Walks in Beauty’ as an example; basing on its speaker’s tone, diction, and symbol, we will see a clear idea of how poetry art works.

The definition of poetry given by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary also provide us the meaning of the poem’s speaker: “writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.” This definition makes us believe that anyone could write poetry, as long as it creates any kind of emotion in another person. The speaker of the poem does the work to create those emotions. For instance, the speaker of ‘She Walk in Beauty’ makes anyone fall in love with his statements of the exquisite elegance of the lady he is describing, and the way he compares her with the beauty of the night: calm, sweet, and pure. Although we cannot describe at best George Gordon’s speaker, we could have the impression of a gentlemen in love; moreover, a wise man who knows how to win a lady’s heart by just using his diction. 

The diction (word choices and order) expresses the appropriate combination of meaning and emotion; poets choose their words for clarity of meaning (denotation), sometimes for its effect (connotations), and other times just for the way they sound (rhythm). According to Barbara F. McManus, in her article, Tools for Analyzing Poetry, we need to “Pay attention to their specific effects in the poem (speaking about diction), how they contribute to the poem's meaning. In many cases the poet will use diction and syntax in unexpected or deviant ways (poetic license).” McManus states that poets don't bend the “rules” of language just because they can; in a good poem, there is always a reason for unusual uses of language. Likewise, Gordon follows the traditional way –what we know as closed form: he follows standard rules of grammar and syntax (sequence, order, and arrangement; the word order and sentence structure) with a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme. For example, his sentences finish having an order or arrangement –like some artists use in their song (ab, ab, ab). In addition, Gordon uses many symbols to illustrate us his ideas embodied in the image without having to state them. 

Poetry is an art, and it comes with many elements, one of which is: Symbolism. The Symbol is an image transferred by something that stands for or represents something else. Bedford St. Martin website states that a symbol works in two ways: “It is something itself, and it also suggests something deeper.” In addition, the article makes a good point by stating there are no symbols with absolute meanings, because of their nature. Then, they conclude with “It is better to begin by asking what they could mean, or what they have meant.” In brief, a symbol could be a person, object, image, word, or event that evokes a range of additional meaning beyond –and usually more abstract than its literal significance. For instance, we might state that Gordon is clearly describing one specific woman’s beauty through his symbols. However, if someone sees beyond Gordon’s diction, this person could say the author is speaking about death –perhaps, for some people –like Emily Dickinson (in ‘Because I could not stop for Death’), death could be kind, serene, and elegant. On the other hand, another person could say that Gordon is talking about love and the way “She walks in beauty” –how it comes into our life and smiles at us, and makes us see its beauty like the intensity of a crystal-clear night. 

As John Ciardi states in his book, How Does a Poem Mean, “Learning to experience poetry is not a radically different process from that of learning any other kind of play…One of the real joys of the play-impulse is in the sudden discovery that one is getting better at it than he had thought he would be.” Ciardi’s definition has been providing a genuine knowledge of the art of poetry since its publication in 1959. The beautiful art of poetry could transform any false rumor of what it does mean, into true appreciation of what it does evoke in its audience. 

Poetry could be charming and in the same way intense. It could make us believe in anything; it could set us free. Poetry could be fun, and enjoyable. Anyone could understand and learn poetry; furthermore, anyone could make poetry. For, even a blind person could see, without using his physical vision –there is not a worse blind than someone who does not want to see. There is not a worse ignorant than someone who does not want to learn –especially, when it comes to learning poetry.

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Ciardi, John. "How Does a Poem Mean." CSU. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. 1959. .

"Elements of Poetry." Virtual Lit. Bedford St. Martins, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. .

McManus, Barbara F. "Tools for Analyzing Poetry." College of New Rochelle. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2007. 

"Poetry." Merriam-Webster. Encyclopedia Britannica Company, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. .