Best words in best order

K S Sivakumaran

Those of us interested in poetry enjoy fresh and satisfying poems written over the centuries by great poets. Some of us make an attempt to write poetry. But only a few succeed in making their writing everlasting.

There are many definitions to poetry by many people in many languages. S T Coleridge said ‘Poetry is the best words in the best order; William Wordsworth: ‘Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. It takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity’; John Keats: ‘A drain less shower of light, the supreme of power’; John Ruskin: ‘Poetry is the suggestion by the imagination of noble grounds for noble emotions’.

There are many other definitions which one can pick up from a book of quotations. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “Poetry is a composition in verse or metrical language.” But with the advent of contemporary poetry this definition needs to be modified. Generally in English Literature there are four main branches of poetry: the epic, the dramatic, narrative and lyric. Conventionally, poetry must have a metre, however irregular. Where subject matter is concerned, it must deal with what is universal. But New Poetry has violated these requirements.

However poetry should have some purpose and express a point of view. It should interpret in one form or another the age and time. It is better if poetry could interpret something astonishing. Good poetry has both thought and feelings. Sensuous perceptions are ideal. Expressing thought with force and making an impact in the reader is the quality of poetry. As we know poetic thought must be a part of the organic whole, having roots in the poet’s individual experience, of his or her own life and way of living.

How the poet presents people, events, setting and atmosphere are all governed by poetic or creative thought. Poetic thought must be rooted in the poet’s sincerity of purpose and a sense of realism. Readers would appreciate the fact that in poetry words have to be arranged in such a way so as to give the greatest impact and the language itself should be highly compressed. Imagery plays an important role in poetry. Metaphor, simile and symbolism – these figures of speech add to the strength and vividness of the final impression and engage the attention of the reader.

Imagery correctly and creatively used makes communication more effective. We would have noticed in old fashioned journalism hackneyed or overused stock images are used, but this has little impact on the reader or listener. At the same time too clever or irrelevant images should also be avoided. Such images are ineffective as they are contained outside human experience. Images should be an inseparable part of the total expression of poetry.

There are many books available in educating novices on how to write poetry. At least there are two recommendable ones: ‘Understanding Poetry’ by Cleanth Brooks and Warren and also The Well Wroght Urn: Studies in Structure of Poetry by Cleanth Brooks. Locally Professor Emeritus D C R A Goonathileke’s booklet Aspects of Poetry would also helpful.

The best way to write poetry is to read aloud selected good poems with understanding and give expression to one’s sincere feelings and thoughts. Let me conclude with this line from Robert Frost – ‘A poem begins with delight and ends in wisdom’.