Do We Still Need to Read Poetry? Understanding Poetry’s Art

April 26th, 2024 7:28 am | by Blog Contributor Posted in Poetry

Many people ask, “Do we still need to read poetry?” And to that, we answer with a resounding yes!

There are still many poets, such as Brion K. Hanks, who are still writing Faith Poetry for encouragement (found in his poem books “Tales of a Traveler in Poetry and Prose” and “When the Rose Fades.”) With so many poems to enjoy and read, it’s almost like an impossibility for people to stop partaking in poetry and its beauty. However, so many folks may like poetry but not truly understand the art behind it.

So today, we’ll be talking about how we can better understand poetry and the art behind it.

Gaining a Better Understanding of Poetry

The literary universe is infinitely varied. Poetry constitutes one of the genre’s most potent and alluring subgenres. For generations, people have used poetry as a means of expressing their feelings, ideas, and narratives.

Poetry can be regarded as a linguistic artwork. A canvas embellished with words and metaphors that evoke strong emotions, elicit thought, and produce vivid imagery. The art form is distinctive in that it incorporates a range of forms, genres, and processes.

While some poems take a more freeform approach, others follow the principles of rhythm and rhyme to the letter. Regardless of individual inclinations or tastes, there is something in the world of poetry for everyone, thanks to this variety.

The True Essence Behind the Art of Poetry

A poem is a concentrated, inventive, and rhythmic work of creative expression that depicts the poet’s feelings or thoughts. Poetry’s fundamental quality is its capacity to arouse emotions, explain complex ideas, and conjure vivid mental images via language and structure. Poetry can be about everything, including societal issues, the human condition, love, loss, joy, sadness, and abstract ideas like existence and time.

Poems frequently impact not only their content but also their delivery. Every poet employs a variety of literary devices to give their writing life, including simile, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and metaphor. Thanks to these strategies, as well as deliberate word choice and arrangement, poems have a special power to convey the indescribable and captivate the reader’s spirit.

Once you understand the essence of poetry, the question of “Do we still need to read poetry?” seems nonsensical. Take one of Brion K. Hanks’s Faith Poetry for encouragement, for example. It shows the value of poems and why we should read poetry.

Here’s a poem from Brion K. Hanks:

Why Should People Still Read a Good Poem in the 21st Century?

Poetry reading is still important in the twenty-first century for a number of reasons:

1. Language Appreciation – Poetry’s emphasis on word choice, rhythm, and tone can help readers develop a greater understanding of language. It’s a fantastic method for increasing vocabulary, comprehending subtle word meanings, and discovering new linguistic possibilities.

2. Advancements in the Digital Space – Contemporary poetry, which has embraced the digital sphere, frequently blurs the boundaries between visual art, the written word, and performance. Interacting with this avant-garde mode of communication might provide a new outlook and comprehension of the contemporary cultural milieu.

3. Emotional Resonance – Poetry allows us to connect deeply with our emotions and experiences. It can offer solace, joy, and understanding, acting as an emotional catharsis.

4. Critical Thinking – Poetry interpretation frequently entails dissecting several levels of meaning, which helps foster analytical and critical thinking abilities.

5. Poetry Broadens Imagination and Thought – Poetry frequently uses symbolic language, vivid imagery, and metaphor, which can pique our interest and inspire original, non-linear thought.

6. Mindful Reading – Poetry is compact; therefore, it should be carefully read—and often read again. This practice encourages patience, awareness, and dedication to detail, all of which can be calming and stress-relieving.

Do we still need to read poetry? We Certainly Do!

Now that you better understand poetry, its essence, and why people should still keep reading it, we advise you to keep reading those poems!

The world of poetry is rich and vast. No two poets are the same, and with each piece offering something different, individuals worldwide will never get tired of it. Especially now, with the Digital Age rapidly advancing, poems have become easier to share and enjoy, prompting even more people to read them.

If you’d like to read more awesome poems about Faith Poetry for encouragement, we highly encourage you to grab a copy of Brion K. Hanks’s “Tales of a Traveler in Poetry and Prose” and “When the Rose Fades” today.

Check out our other articles and discover why everyone should read poems!