John Keating in Dead Poets Society said that poetry is more than just pretty words on paper. Poetry is known as the highest and purest forms of expression and is fundamental to being human. Since the ancient times, man has been using rich, descriptive words; rhythm; and imagery to tell stories and express their emotions and ideas. This has not changed and still remains true even today. Poetry is still a powerful and significant literary medium that it has always been.

So why is poetry timeless? As poet Elizabeth Barett Browning says, “Let me count the ways…”

• Poetry mirrors human experience. Poetry has the ability to capture the nuances of human experiences and invites us to reflect on them. Considered as the “language of the soul,” poetry captures the deeper meaning of our human experiences—a broken heart, a successful endeavor, a joyful occasion—and helps us understand what it means to be human.
• Poetry shifts our perspectives. In a world steeped in diversity and differing viewpoints, poetry, through the use of metaphors and symbolism, fosters empathy and understanding, helping people to see things from a different perspective.
• Poetry fosters language appreciation. Poetry requires linguistic artistry and demands from poets to be masters in the language. Although challenging and complicated, poetry gives us the opportunity to discover the beauty of words, savor the language, and appreciate the many different ways of language expression.
• Poetry promotes a sense of healing and well-being. Poetry is healing because it provides a safe and healthy space for us to confront our feelings, explore our emotions, and find emotional clarity. The words, imagery, and metaphors in poetry have been known to facilitate healing and personal growth. Reading or writing poetry can be cathartic experience wherein we get to confront our psycho-emotional issues and come out with a greater sense of clarity and a healthier sense of self.
• Poetry preserves our culture and history. In the beginning, poetry was a way to tell stories and record history. The epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer, two of the earliest known poems, gives us a picture of what Ancient Greece was like. They are classic examples of how poems are preservers of cultural heritage and history. Poetry ensures that the collective wisdom of humanity is remembered, honored, and, more importantly, passed down from one generation to the next, serving as our compass as we navigate our turbulent present time.
• Poetry inspires artistic expression. Artistic expression is an essential aspect of human experience, and poetry plays a pivotal role in igniting and inspiring these creative expressions. Many great artists have drawn inspiration from poetry and used it as prompts for their own artistic explorations such as painting, sculpting, or the many other forms of art. Poetry is a rich source of human expression that can be translated to other various form of art.

These are the just some of the many reasons as to why poetry is timeless. The fact is, as long we continue to have human experiences, poetry will go on to be the mirror and window that reflects to us the profound beauty of our human experiences.

Now how does one go about writing poems that are timeless? Lily Collins of Poems shares some ways to create timeless verses:

• Choose the right form: In selecting the most suitable form, the structure that provides a framework for its expression, consider the theme and tone of your poem to select the most suitable form. The form should complement the content and enhance its impact.
• Establish a compelling theme: The theme is the central idea or message that you want to convey through your verses. Choose a theme that is meaningful to you, as your passion and connection to the topic will shine through in your words.
• Develop a strong opening: An intriguing and impactful opening sets the tone of the poem, captures the reader’s attention, and entices the reader to delve deeper into your poem. Use vivid imagery, striking metaphors, or thought-provoking questions to draw the reader in from the very first line.
• Use figurative language: Utilizing similes, metaphors, and personification adds depth and richness to your verses, helping you create captivating and memorable poems.
• Craft evocative imagery: When you are able to create a visual and emotional experience for your readers, you can transport your audience to the world of your poem, making it a truly immersive experience.
• Invoke emotion: Emotion is at the heart of poetry, so use powerful language, vivid imagery, and heartfelt expressions to elicit emotional responses with your audience.
• Consider the other essential components of poetic composition such as rhythm and meter, soundscape, line breaks , etc. to elevate your poem to timeless quality.

Poems that are timeless relies on its ability to convey complex emotions, vivid imagery, and profound thoughts through carefully crafted words. These key elements were used by great poets of the past; and their poems, for generations now, continue to resonate with readers.

Sources:

Bengu, Tee. “The Importance of Poetry in the Modern Age.” Last modified August 5, 2023. https://medium.com/life-an-architecture-of-magic/the-timeless-echo-the-importance-of-poetry-in-the-modern-age-8ee147f7898e.

Carey, Jessica. “What Defines Poetry? Unlocking the Mysteries of This Timeless Art Form. “Accessed October 6, 2024. https://creativitychronicles.com/what-defines-poetry/.

Collins, Lily. “Poetry’s Golden Key: Unlocking the 12 Rules of Composition for Timeless Verses.” Accessed October 12, 2024. https://vocal.media/poets/poetry-s-golden-key-unlocking-the-12-rules-of-composition-for-timeless-verses.

Smankal. “The Power of Poetry.” Last modified April 19, 2024. https://medium.com/@noorsairan/the-power-of-poetry-3cf48b09a7ea.