What is Poetry - Perspectives from the East and West

Ajey Sir is a poet from Sumnam village in Lahul, known for his anthology 'In Sapnon ko Kaun Gayega'.
kavitakosh.org...
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POETRY is imaginative language in unique arrangement (in lines, stanzas, etc.) and set to a particular rhythm.
It can absorb a much higher concentration of metaphorical and figurative speech than prose.
Poetry was originally meant to be spoken and heard - thus, it is ultimately an art of sound.
“best words in the best order” - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” - William Wordsworth
“emotion put into measure” - Thomas Hardy
“hundreds of things coming together at the right moment” - Elizabeth Bishop
“life distilled” - Gwendolyn Brooks
From advertisements to politics, POETRY IS EVERYWHERE!
Traditional poetry: mostly religius, romantic, courtly and pastoral themes in structured rhyme.
Modern poetry: mostly mundane/everyday/political/satirical/secular themes in highly crafted free verse.
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EVOLUTION of Canonical Poetry
Why do people write what they write?
Social, economic, political and cultural factors
In the ancient times, there was no idea of ‘authorship’ and the poets/song-writers were considered prophetic truth-tellers, and themes were mostly religious -- as in the ancient epics and folk-oral narratives.
As feudal monarchies took over, documented poetry concerned itself mostly with romanticising the nobility and courts.
Then in the Romantic age, poets emphasised the supremacy of individual feelings, with the beauty of nature and love being major themes. Several such poets became 'celebrities', as the idea of authorship became as important as the poems themselves.
Meanwhile, the Printing Press and increasing literacy led to democratisation of the written word as a means of mass communication and entertainment. Thus, language and themes became more generic, often reflecting on popular political and social issues.
The World Wars brought a break in the traditional Western narratives, whereby the old systems began to seem redundant and artistic individuals questioned all previous assumptions, leading to highly personal, emotional, academic and/or progressive narratives. Free verse became popular.
Thus, modern poetry often concerns itself with the absurdity inherent in our individual-and-social systems - confessional poetry, secular and mundane themes, etc.
In contemporary times, it’s as if everything that had to be said has already been said - so there is more focus on HOW you say it, i.e. the craft behind poetry. Otherwise, political poetry remains popular.
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A good poem strives to capture the essence of a topical situation/the general zeitgeist of its time and place/some universal timeless essence of life and the world.
ART vs. CRAFT
Scholarly poetics and editing Vs. Importance of natural voice and rhythm
Western documentation Vs. Eastern mysticism
Poets generally write about things they feel strongly about, so try to find out what affects you the most and try to honestly put those ideas, feelings and images in your own unique words and style. Common poetic themes stem from nature and romance. Gradually, work on craft, i.e. how to say what you want to say. And remember, there are no rules in poetry.
A good poet manages to bring universal qualities to his/her personal thoughts and feelings. For a poem involves two people - the poet and the reader - and emotion is what connects them to each other. A good poem moves the reader - be it emotionally or aesthetically (through craft). Thus, a poet must know how to control the language of his/her emotions.
Tips for writing good poetry
1. Live, feel, observe and learn diverse experiences.
2. Write about what you know from experience in your natural language.
3. Read all kinds of literature and learn from their merits and mistakes.
4. Keep writing and gradually develop your own voice and style.
5. There is no harm in editing until you feel you have said what you wanted to say in the best possible manner.
6. Talk to other people who read and write, discuss and critique each other's work and ideas.
EXERCISE: Write a stanza about something that makes you sad, something that makes you smile and something that makes you angry.
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REFERENCES:
Vijaydev Narayan Sahi
Kumar Vikal - Ek Nastik ke Prarthna Geet
Kedarnath Singh, GM Muktibodh, Dhumil
The 100,000 Songs of Milarepa
Amir Khusrao
Sufi and Bhakti movements - Lal Ded, Akka Mahadevi, Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Nanak, Kabir, Meera, etc.
Reeti Kaal
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Bhartendu Harishchandra - Andher Nagari
Progressive Writers' Association: Premchand, Ismat Chughtai, Mulk Raj Anand, etc.
Chhayavaad - Jaishankar Prasad, Mahadevi Varma, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Sumitranandan Pant, etc.
Nirala - Woh Todti Patthar, Kukurmutta
Agyeya - Taar Saptak
Beat poetry
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