Poetry — What is it?

What is poetry?  It’s a good question to which there are many answers, as poetry (like all things subjective) does not really have a single definition: it is merely known when encountered.  I am reminded of a scene from a rather witty screenplay that I picked up in a book store in Athens; the scene is of three men, who fearing that they have just destroyed the only known manuscript of the first English dictionary, decide to rewrite a substitute overnight:

E: Very well, sir, as you wish. Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?  First: ‘A’; how would you define ‘a’?

G: Oh, I love this! I love this: quizzes… oh yes, I’ve got it!

E: What?

G: Well, it doesn’t really mean anything, does it?

E: (Sarcastically) Good. So we’re well on the way, then:

“A: impersonal pronoun; doesn’t really mean anything.”

Insha Allah, this discussion will be continued.

PS: Still looking for my own poetry? Relax. It’s all been moved to Trobador. Enjoy.

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