What Isn’t Poetry?
It’s no secret that poetry and its impact are felt across the world; from antiquity to modern times. But what isn’t poetry? This is a much more complicated question than it might seem. While the average person might think they know what poetry isn’t, there are many nuances and complexities to the subject that has yet to be explored.
“At times, it can be difficult to define what is and what is not poetry,” says Professor Jeff Thoreson of the University of Michigan. “It can depend on the context, structure, and a number of other elements.” Throughout the years, many have argued about the differences between poetry and prose, but these debates can often be subjective. However, what we do know is that poetry and prose do have distinct characteristics that have been identified.
Poetry is usually written in verse, and is meant to evoke emotion in the reader. “Poetry taps into the emotions of the reader in a very powerful way,” says poet Anne Beckman. “It connects with readers on a deeper level, providing insight into the human condition and inspiring feelings of joy, sadness, and wonder.”
Prose, on the other hand, is usually much less structured than poetry. Prose often tells a story, and is meant to inform or instruct the reader. “With prose, the writer is trying to engage the reader in a much more measured way,” explains Professor Thoreson. “They want to provide a certain amount of information in an organized fashion, rather than allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions from the text.”
What sets poetry and prose apart even more clearly is the purpose of each. Poetry is meant to evoke emotion, whereas prose is meant to inform or instruct. This divide can be a useful indicator to help distinguish between the two mediums. However, this is by no means a hard and fast rule as there are oftentimes exceptions to the rule.
Ultimately, what isn’t poetry is an individual’s interpretation. Poetry and prose can often overlap, but they also have their distinct qualities. While it is often difficult to define these boundaries, it is important to keep in mind that poetry and prose are two distinct mediums that have their own purpose. Before attempting to classify a piece of writing as one or the other, it is important to take into account the context, structure, and intent of the author.
Metrical Poetry
Metrical poetry is one of the most recognized forms of poetry. It consists of lines of verse that are metrically regular, meaning each line has a certain number of syllables and stresses. This type of poetry is often written in traditional forms and is divided into stanzas to indicate a sense of unity. It is often seen as an idealized form of poetry, as the structure and style can be trademarked to specific poets, such as Shakespeare or John Donne. Consequently, metrical poetry is seen as one of the most established forms of poetry.
Metrical poetry often follows a particular pattern, such as a rhyme scheme or a specific meter. This creates a rhythm and flow within the poem and encourages the reader to focus on the emotion and feeling that the poem is trying to convey. Metrical poetry is seen as one of the most classic forms, and is often seen as the preservation of unity and continuity within a poem.
Other forms of poetry can be composed, but they are usually not as recognizable as metrical poetry. These types of unexpected poetry can be just as powerful as metrical poetry, but they often explore more abstract and unconventional subjects. This type of poetry often goes beyond the confines of metrical structure and instead relies on personal expression and interpretation from the reader.
No matter what type of poetry someone is talking about, it is important to note that poetry is a highly personal and unique form of writing. Whether it is metrical or abstract, each poem serves a purpose and has its own style and structure. What isn’t poetry can depend on the scope of one’s understanding of what poetry is.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is a very different form of writing than poetry. While creative writing often explores topics of emotion and feeling, it also seeks to convey ideas and logically explain concepts. Whereas poetry often relies on metaphors and similes to express a thought, creative writing utilizes a more straightforward approach to explain and provide logic to an argument.
Creative writing is commonly used in fiction, non-fiction, and journalistic writing. It is the writing style in which stories and facts are conveyed in an entertaining and informative way. Creative writing also blends different genres of writing, such as dialogue, description, and narration. This allows the writer to provide more vibrant and imaginative stories for their readers.
Unlike poetry, creative writing does not try to evoke emotion from the reader; rather, it seeks to provide some level of instruction or insight. It draws upon characters, setting, and plot to provide readers with an engaging plot line and storyline. Creative writing also offers more room to explore plot details and scenarios in an imaginative way.
At its core, creative writing is focused on educating and informing readers. It is an effective way to communicate complex topics in a more engaging way. When compared to poetry, the purpose of the writing is often very different. This does not mean that poetry is lesser in any way; merely that it functions differently.
Limericks
Limericks are a form of poetry that is often used in humorous contexts. It is a type of metrical verse and consists of five lines of verse. The rhyme scheme follows a specific pattern of AABBA where the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth lines rhyme.
Limericks are typically lighthearted and frisky, and often times make use of wordplay to create comedic effect. They are composed around a particular subject and typically have an “A-HA” moment at the end. These types of poems can be seen as an artistic representation of everyday life, as they make use of humor and wit to elicit laughter and smiles.
Due to the lighthearted nature of limericks, they are often confused with all types of poetry. But while limericks share some characteristics with other types of poems, they have some distinctions that set them apart. Generally speaking, limericks are intended to produce a chuckle and serve as a way to pass the time.
Limericks are most certainly a form of poetry, but they are quite distinct from other forms of poetry, such as metrical or abstract poetry. Even though limericks might not evoke the same emotional reactions as other poems, they serve a unique purpose within the art of poetry.
Epitaphs
Epitaphs are a unique form of poetry that are typically used to memorialize a deceased individual. As such, they are composed in a very particular way and usually consist of brief and concise phrases. They can be simple, like “beloved son”, or they can be complex and reflective of the person’s life.
Epitaphs are written in a very specific style with the intention of capturing the essence of the deceased individual’s life. This writing style allows readers to take a moment and reflect on the individual’s life as they read. The brevity of an epitaph allows it to serve as an emotional trigger, as it conveys a powerful sentiment in a short and meaningful way.
The purpose of an epitaph is much different from that of poetry, as it seeks to memorialize a person, rather than evoke emotion. This does not mean that it does not utilize poetic techniques, such as metaphor and imagery, but rather, the aim of the writing is to be more literal in its message.
Epitaphs are and can be seen as a form of poetry, but their purpose and meaning are often much different from other types of poems. While epitaphs often employ poetic techniques and language, they are more focused on preserving someone’s life and memory solemnly, rather than evoke emotion or inspire thought.
Lyric Poetry
Lyric poetry is a type of verse that is often written in an informal or conversational style. It is distinct from other forms of poetry in that lyric poetry often explores themes of intimacy or longing. The intimate topics of lyric poetry require a more open expression, as they often make use of personal feelings and thoughts.
Due to its informal and personal nature, lyric poetry has often been seen as a vulnerable and emotive form of expression. It is often used to explore themes of love and personal relationships in a more candid manner. The subject matter of these poems is often based on the writer’s experiences in life, which allows for very unique and revealing stories.
Lyric poetry allows the writer to express themselves in an open and frank way, as these poems focus on more personal topics. As such, lyric poetry provides an outlet for them to communicate emotions and feelings in an emotive and emotive way. This allows the poem to be seen as more of an emotional response than a structured piece of writing.
Lyric poetry can often be seen as a form of storytelling, as the poem is ultimately a journal entry of sorts. It is lyrical in nature, as the writer is often weaving a story or experience with their own emotions. While it might not have the same structure or intent of other poetry forms, lyric poetry has a unique and personal quality that makes it stand out.
