Monday, April 21, 2008

On Writing Poetry

There is an interesting balance to be struck between processing the emotion of a subject and viewing issues objectively enough to move them into that realm of artistic merit. A safe critique group helps move it along, but ultimately, poetry is not democratic. The heart of the writer paves her own way and it may or may not be important to have her work recognized by others. I am such a novice to the concept of marketing my work, though, I feel it imperative to gain some understanding of how to make the work more accessible without sacrificing the personal emotion.

We all long to be known. Learning to know myself through the eyes of others and by discarding my pretenses through the openness of poetry are steps to this end. It is riveting when I find another writer articulates with resonating words an issue in which I have not, could not come to clarity.

I relish the thought of heaven being the place where "we will know as we are known."'

Processing my emotions by giving them safe and valid expression through writing, journaling and poetry was the beginning of healing. As I review my words later I sometimes realize what I wrote felt true then but no longer. This has been my experience. Poetry IS therapy.

To everything there is a season. For a time I focus inward to bring out what needs to be healed or purged (emotional surgery through writing). As I progress, I begin looking outward to understand that we are not alone in our experience. There are others who experience similar if not parallel anguish (emotional healing through reading and reflecting). I gain from that. And then through it all, I need to seek out the source of all healing, our great Physician (surgery and healing through prayer, meditation, study of God's word - the poetry, the prose, the doctrine). It is only God's word that will never return void. Christ was/is the Word. (John 1)

May our words reflect His... and bring healing to ourselves and others as a result. (2 Cor. 1)

2 comments:

  1. lots of nodding in agreement here ...

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  2. Interesting to hear your perspective, Joyce. I see from this how much the poetry you share is a gift of yourself, and I love that!

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