What does the heart contain, which allows it to create; and what's more, to create beauty? Or even to simply appreciate beauty? What is within us that allows it to reside, there, and to come out of us?
Yup. That is the question. Well, a few of them. Hopefully you'll see what I mean.
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day, and the topic of poetry arose. We were discussing when and why we find ourselves in the pursuit of putting mind to page, or heart to page, as it may be. We were actually, both surprised to discover how many things we have in common, related to this topic, though I've known others who also have such similarities as we share, as well. I actually find such things fascinating, and it was fun to find my friend was intrigued by the idea, as well!
It makes me curious... What causes those who occasionally or regularly wax poetic, to do so? What inspires the mind to launch into creation mode? Why do our minds find this sudden stroke of inspiration, and begin to connect ideas and words in ways they never were, before?
Just so you know, in case you were expecting me to start citing mesmerizing research on the topic... If you've read many of my other posts, you should know better than that, by now. The PB Project really isn't all that technical about such things. However, if you happen to know of research done on this topic, you are very welcome to share links to it, either down in the comments, or on the PB Project Facebook Page! I'm always interested in things others love to study! After all, when a person shares information on things about which they are passionate, their energy can shine through what they say, illuminating those things in ways that might not have been felt to others, before!
As seems to have become the regular habit of mine, with regard to the PB Project in general, I searched to find some of the words of others who might illuminate my questions, some. As I searched, many jumped out at me, and perhaps rather than just one, I'll share a few. After all, "waxing poetic" is kinda the point, right?
“There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it.” ~ Gustave Flaubert
“There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it.” ~ Gustave Flaubert
“Poetry is what gets lost in translation.” ~ Robert Frost
“Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.” ~ Charles Bukowski
“Always be a poet, even in prose.” ~ Charles Baudelaire
“Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.” ~ W.H. Auden
“Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone.” ~ Lawrence Ferlinghetti
I remember in school, I had various classes wherein at some point, the instructors were working on teaching us various forms of poetry, though not nearly as many as there are. One year, we even had an entire unit dedicated to many things poetry, with a number of assignments to let us practice, from haiku, to sonnets, to free verse; rhyming and non-rhyming, alike. Looking back, I can very much tell the difference between those teachers who were probably poets, themselves, and those who were being paid to include poetry as a topic in their classrooms, but who had no, particular connection to it. I would imagine those differing attitudes had a lot of effect on the attitudes of their students, as well. As I said before, our passions have an energy that touch the hearts of those around us, and those who connect with others of similar feelings have a tendency to feed each other.
In my high school, there was a poets' club, and the members of which got together to practice readings and peer critiquing. I'm not sure how long this ran, but I did attend a reading or two, and I was rather impressed at how talented and brave my peers there, were. Despite my pretty much spending as much time on stage as possible, growing up, I was not as self-confident as I might have seemed. For me, performing was not the same as the way I viewed this act of courage of my friends. It was simple to memorize lines, music, or actions, to be performed later, or even to write talks and speeches on a topic to give at events; but for me, to open up my deepest, inner chambers to the world through something as intimate as poetry has always been a very intimidating thing!
For me, performance was an act of hiding in a place where no one would interrupt me; reciting my own poetry was inviting a vulnerability that I simply couldn't bring up the nerve to do. Still don't! In fact, I think of all 154, published posts here, only one has some form of poetry in it, just something simple on a specific topic, and I was as nervous about posting that as I ever have been, posting anything, anywhere! To my mind, it is easier to ramblebabble ad nauseum about this, that, or the other thing, than to offer up what feels like a very tender part of me to the wolves and trolls of the internet! That may seem strange, but so be it. But it seems to be a rather common thought process, and I know I am not alone in it. In fact, my friend more or less said the very same thing, and as a man, he feels that more than I!
So what is it about poetry that is so... intimate? Why is it that those who create it often feel like we are performing an act of complete vulnerability, simply in the composing, and so much more in the sharing? How is it that sending a letter or email, no matter how personal in content, can feel more safe than sharing a poem we've composed?
And even more...
why do we sometimes pause
and can even feel we're captivated
by a line, a word, or a verse of another's?
A good example of this is music. Music is the heart's poetry in motion, I think. I believe that from the time we are infants, our brains respond to music, creating neurons which help us connect other concepts, later. A pregnant mother might notice her baby's movements change with various types and styles of music, and newborns and infants often respond to lullabies as soothing tools. Children tend to love using music as games to memorize information, and we often find as adults that those songs stick with us. In English, think, The Alphabet Song, for those who learned it as a way to remember the letters of the alphabet. There is a Spanish song about vowels which I learned in junior high school, which to this day pops into my head as soon as the topic comes up!
As we age, though, poetry becomes more than just a learning tool, especially in the form of music. It can touch our emotions in ways nothing else can, and influence them, too! Many who shun the idea of poetry have no trouble accepting it in the form of lyrics! And many millionaires have been created as a result of this kind of poetry sharing, which demonstrates how much we value the emotional connection we have with it.
I suppose I must let you know...
I've no idea about the answers to my original questions:
What does the heart contain, which allows it to create;
and what's more, to create beauty?
Or even to simply appreciate beauty?
What is within us that allows it to reside within us, and to come out of us?
What causes those who occasionally or regularly wax poetic, to do so?
What inspires the mind to launch into creation mode?
Why do our minds find this sudden stroke of inspiration,
and begin to connect ideas and words in ways they never were, before?
...sorry.Perhaps you can see this as a way for us to explore something, together? Do *you* write poetry? What causes you to feel that need to do so; why do you do it, and the way you do it? Do you have no interest in it, or do you think you aren't good at it? What makes you believe that way about yourself? Even if you choose not to answer, maybe this is a chance for you to delve into something about yourself that is more beautiful than you might realize, and you could even explore it more, yourself?
Whatever you do, try to live beautifully, and make each day a mindful verse in the poem of your life. I do not believe that poetry is about lines on a page, after all, as some of those quotes I chose, reflect. That is one way to help contribute to the love and beauty of this world.
Better days ahead, my friends!
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