Soul Expression

First day of class and being told that this entire course will consist of writing a blog, was far from what I expected in an Expository Writing class. Thoughts ran through my head on whether I should drop this class or not. When the teacher began the usual scare tactics to freak students out and stated the drop rate for this class, my decision was made, I would stick with it. Although I knew this class would take alot of work, I love a challenge and I didnt want to give my teacher the satisfaction of having less work to grade.

Within this blog I will write my opinion on Def poetry. Def poetry is a show that was founded by Russell Simmons and premiered on HBO. The series presented performances by established spoken word poets as well as upcoming poets. Each week I will view performances by different poets and commenting on critics left by people on YouTube. I will use the insight of our recent Poet Laureate, Robert Pinsky, through his book “The Sounds of Poetry.” This book will be used as a guide to analyze if Def Poetry fits in Pinsky’s criteria as “poetry.” Exhibiting my point of views either agreeing or disagreeing with the content within “The Sounds of Poetry,” which will portray the aspects of They Say, I Say.

When it comes to the format of this blog, I would like to begin with giving the meaning of poetry and use Pinsky’s book to determine what characterizes something as poetry. Throughout the following weeks, I will introduce a poem that premiered on the Def Poetry Show, constitute my interpretation of the poem, use key points to identify if it is considered a poem with the ideas of Pinsky, bring forth the criticism from other people about the poem, and release my verdict on whether I liked the poem or not and why.

During the course of this assignment, I will be watching different performances from the show Def Poetry and analyzing how each poet performs their piece of art and portray that within my criticism. Since poetry is meant to be heard, hearing it and watching it expressed from the poet themselves is the best way to criticize. I would receive a better understanding by watching it being performed than just reading the verses on a piece of paper. Unfortunately, there are little to no blogs or criticism on Def poetry, unless it’s from websites such as YouTube, where subscribers write their opinions beneath each video that contains a poet reciting their poem.

From what I have read, there are many people that find controversy within the Def Poetry realm. Some believe Def poetry isn’t poetry at all, because the concept of Def poetry is to depict the Hip Hop’s theme, using rhythm and a beat through the spoken word. My blog will try to explain what makes Def Poetry considered “poetry.” By researching and analyzing the dimensions of what many people of society consider poetry, and collate that information I find to reveal that Def poetry is in fact “poetry” disguised in a different form. During the last week, I will prepare two types of poetry of my own, one being Def Poetry, and the other being what people consider to be poetry. At the end I will try and illustrate to people that either way that the words are produced or organized, the way a person expresses their feelings, emotions, thoughts, etc., it will always be considered “poetry,” because, those are the only things that creates a poem.

Since I have yet to find many blogs about Def poetry, this will be an opportunity to expand the horizons of the many people that haven’t heard of Def Poetry or just don’t consider it to be poetry at all.

What is Poetry?

"Pry me out of this hole they call a life and reveal the real me
White-out the mistakes that life has given me and capture my perfections.
Scars left from living with the incurable, I wish would disappear,
Pain endured and restrictions applied, I began to see myself asking why?
Why me?"

Its crazy how the collaboration of words can have so many different meanings, to different people. This just shows the power of poetry. There is no right or wrong answer of one's interpretation of any poems meaning, as long as you are able to defend your thoughts. When I wrote this poem, it was meant to signify the mind set of someone dealing with low self-esteem. I placed myself in shoes that I once wore and soon grew out of. Line by line, each verse reflected upon a stage in life that I once encountered. I hide behind the face of poetry to express any feelings I may have or what I visualize when I look at my surroundings.

From online sources, the definition of poetry can be described as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;" by Wordsworth. Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" and Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toe nails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing."
According to Robert Pinsky's book "The Sounds of Poetry," Pinsky states, "Because the skill, acquired like the ability to walk and run, we have finely developed powers that let us appreciate the sound of even an isolated single line of poetry---even if we have very little idea of the meaning---that someone might quote with appreciation, like,

The fire that stirs about her when she stirs
Or,
In a smart burnose Khadour looked on, amused
Or,
Absence my presence is, strangeness my grace
Or,
Back out of all this now too much for us
Or,
Let be finale of seem
Or,
Sorrow is my own yard "
The beauty is still revealed through the words

All of these are ways of describing what poetry may mean and with all I agree. In simpler terms, the definition of poetry to me can be described as the expression of feelings, thoughts, dreams, inspirations, etc., put into creative verses. Poetry has no barriers or limits, its an art that continues to give. What one person perceives for a meaning of a certain poem, another person may be able to relate to the same poem and create a totally different meaning that still makes sense. Just as Emily Dickinson stated, the feeling that she gets after reading a book allows her to know its poetry. Poetry is not to only be read, but to be heard and felt. Even if certain words arent understood, the beauty of it is still exposed.

Music derives from poetry. In poetry we have iambic pantameter, in music we have a beat. Poetry and music both have verses and both express the same meaning in a different form. One you can dance to, and the other that can be read or hear and provide either the same or a different emotion. Poetry is soothing, beautiful, meaningful, and so much more. But to me, poetry is my expression of life.