Hi @emily-waldorf , I’m thankful we can all continue this conversation, even amidst the strong opinions. I think your idea about the heart and soul of poetry would line up well with John Keats: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” (from the last lines of “Ode on a Grecian Urn”).

Now I don’t n…[Read more]

Thanks for the compliments @anne-of-lothlorien !

And yes, it is in reference to “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Here it is. Hope you enjoy it (and that the forum formatting doesn’t mangle it too badly)!

Boo Radley

By Cainon Leeds

Some of my poems have adjusted well.
They can tie their own shoes and walk out the door
and down the streets of…[Read more]

Hey @anne-of-lothlorien , cool poem, and congrats on publication! It kind of of reminds me of one of my own titled “Boo Radley”.

As for the tanka, it’s a short Japanese style of poetry that’s defined by its use of syllables, as well as certain themes if you’re being strict about it. It has 5 lines, with the 1st and 3rd lines consisting of 5…[Read more]

Also, I would like to hear about one of these topics or themes that cannot or should not be found in poetry. I do enjoy a good challenge 😉

Hey @emily-waldorf , welcome to the discussion! I think you raise an interesting topic for discussion. What is the heart of poetry? I think it’s a good question to be asking ourselves and I’ll pass the question along to anyone else in this thread as well.

I don’t know as though I would say that genuineness is the heart of poetry; but I have…[Read more]

Hey @anne-of-lothlorien thanks for joining the conversation here! And I totally agree with you on a personal level because free verse has become my preferred poetry writing style for some of the same reasons as you shared. Free verse offers a lot of freedom of expression, and when it’s handled artfully, it can express a LOT in a very poetic way.…[Read more]

Hey @dakota and @sparrowhawke , again, thanks for continuing the conversation here.

Dakota, I think you’re onto something there. By no means do we want to condone or encourage the kinds of dark things in our lives or the lives of our characters. But at the same time, what will the light be triumphant over if we glaze over the darkness or…[Read more]

Hey @sparrowhawke , thanks for keeping this conversation going. I’d rather hear from an amateur (someone who does something for the love of it) than a professional any day of the week. One of my favorite contemporary poets is an amateur. So if you’ve got any insights, I’d love to hear them.

I really enjoy the works of Billy Collins, T. S.…[Read more]

Hey @dakota , this is definitely uplifting in a worship music song lyrics kinda way. Is that what you’re aiming for?