PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

     Poetry has been in existence since the creation of time, society has throughout the ages struggled to attach a definition to this illusive term and in doing so manifest a reason for its existence.  I will reputably dispute the dictionary definition of poetry, analyze several quotes by several poets and refer to a few poetic criticisms in an attempt to prove that poetry is indefinable and therefore free to be defined by its poet.  
     It can effectively be argued that any word that is in the dictionary can be defined.  A well formulated definition does not attempt to define the word through the use of the word itself nor the use of synonyms of the word.  I argue that due to the lack of consistency between definitions and due to the vague nature of all definitions of poetry, that the term poetry is in fact one that fails to retain a distinct definition.  For instance the definition contained within the Merriam-Webster dictionary which was published in 1997 states that poetry is simply metric writing.  On the other hand the new lexicon Webster dictionary of the English language defines poetry in a much more complex way.  They describe poetry as a type of discourse which achieves its effect by rhythm, sound patterns and imagery.  It is plausible then to assume that any other dictionary would have a differing definition of the term.  This appears to be the case after further examination of several other reliable dictionary sources.  The result of this disagreement between reputable sources leads one to assume a degree of uncertainty in the definition.  Since there are common points between the two definition let us define the composition of the definition.  Let us first look at the definition of metric writing.  In the days of the bard poetry was never writing, which leads me to think that it is not necessary for poetry to be written in order to be called such.  The term meter is defined by the same dictionary as rhythm in verse or music.  Rhythm is defined as the regular rise and fall in the flow of sound in speech.  By this definition music contains no rhythm without words.  It also suggests that poetry can be spoken but according to the definition poetry is only in the form of writing.  Definitions that contradict themselves are not as reliable as they may at first appear.   While music may be one form of poetry, it is not the only form.  The definition of verse is simply defined as a line of poetry.  This definition brings us all the way back to were we started, leading me to conclude that the definition of poetry is given by a circular argument which happens to be  a fallacy of argumentation.  The further examination of the larger more complex definition yields the same results.
     Let us now examine some definitions that well known poets have given to poetry.  Robert frost, according to Westchester University, once said a poem begins with a lump in the throat, it is a reaching out towards expression.  Frost suggests that poetry is a feeling that is forced into expression by its poet.  Samuel Johnson according to the same source said that the end of writing is to instruct, the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.  This suggests that poetry is instructional and pleasing.  However, not everyone finds poetry pleasurable or instructional.  Wordsworth defines poetry as "The spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." Dickenson said "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry."   Every poet has a different definition of poetry.  Aristotle said, "poetry is something more philosophical and more worthy of serious attention than history."  Ralph Waldo Emerson defined poetry as a spoken painting.  Carl Sandburg said, "poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the sky."  Many more definitions from many more poets can easily be found and all are equally unique.  The uniqueness of all definitions is not proof that a definition does not exist.  It is also not proof that one does exist and therefore I suggest to you that in fact poetry is indefinable by the nature of its failure to be defined.
     If anyone is capable of defining poetry it is the greatest poet of the 20th century, Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote numerous essays on the formation and use of poetry.  He was also a well respected poetic critique.  In his essay, The Poetic Principle, he makes his definition clear stating several facts about poetry.  However, at the beginning of this essay a disclaimer suggests that he himself is uncertain that his definition is accurate.  This was not Poe's only attempt to define the term.  In his essay The Rational of Verse,  he says that the reason poetry is difficult to define is because it is so widely discussed.  He then goes on to say that the true definition is simple and in thirty four pages he final manages to get his simple definition expressed into words.  
     Due to the inability of poets to agree on a definition of poetry I suggest that poetry is defined by its poet.  My definition of poetry is simply this, an expression of self.  Poe said, "poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words."  This is how I wish to remember the definition of poetry, not as a thing but rather as the creation of a thing.