Poetry can take on many forms, and whether the poet is constructing a haiku or the lyrics for a song, a poet’s ability and responsibility to comment on the world around him or her is terrific. Great poems have been and continue to be responsible for aiding in the political and social change and awareness of the masses. As President Kennedy stated in 1964 as he gave a speech about the brilliant, late Robert Frost, “The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable.”
The poem is a form that is able to communicate universal truths and realities about the human condition. The poet's job is to find meaning in a seemingly meaningless universe and offer a respite for death, sadness and the unavoidable horrors of the world. A poem can offer hope through wisdom and beauty and is capable of engaging the reader in a deeply personal connection that feeds the soul and elevates hope.
Even though an extraordinarily long novel’s power isn’t diminished because of the time it takes to read, there is something to be said for an art form that can be absorbed rather quickly and still have a fundamental influence on a person’s life and moral foundation. In several short lines a poem with enough power and passion can guide a person toward intrinsic human good. Similar to a brilliant painting that can be absorbed with a short viewing, the great short poem can deliver incredible wisdom with economy.
For amateur poets and truly gifted ones alike, the poetic form is a way to let out joy, pain, frustration and any other feeling or emotion. It is a form of self-expression that is able to capture the human experience in a relatable and profound way. Whether you have interest in writing a sonnet or limerick, a poem that rhymes or doesn’t, just the act of writing out your thoughts in the form of a poem can be therapeutic and productive.