What is the purpose of poetry?

Da'watul-Allaah · **What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

^^

I mean I thought It might be to entertain, but these poems are quite dud, pls help. Loq

Souljette · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

which poems are

**Abdul Baari** · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Assalamu Alaykum Warahamtullahi Wabarakaatuh,

Which poems ukhtee?

Anyways found these reasons on Google

Quote:

Esthetics
The music of language, intricate rhyme schemes, elegant phrases, vivid images - the art of poetry is enough to inspire many to write it.
There is no earthly reason for the existence of Shelley's poem, "To a Skylark" - except that it sounds beautiful. Edgar Allen Poe could have had no reason to write "The Bells" except delight in the music of it -- unless he was cackling with glee over the prospect of generations of readers being driven up the walls by his repetitions.

Which leads into the second category ...

To Have an Effect
Many writers are frustrated hams. We want to "make 'em laugh; make 'em cry." We want to reach out and touch someone -- arouse them to sensuous passion, make them shudder in dread of creepy things in the shadows, enrage them, soothe them. Just to prove we can.
Which leads into ...

Showing Off
Intricate rhyme schemes; alternating trochaic hexameter and anapestic octometer; vivid flights of imagery that leave stunned readers asking, "Huh? Whazzat?" There are many ways to indulge the urge to Show Off, in poetry.

Persuasion

"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." From satirizing your enemies to promoting your heroes, teaching ethics or arithmetic on Sesame Street or selling cat food, millennia of persuaders have found that people listen to and remember words couched in rhythm and rhyme, and phrased entertainingly.

Communication
This is closely related to the urge to have an effect, or to persuade, but not identical.
I have been writing poetry for a lot longer than I have been writing prose. Often, in conversation, I will want to express an idea - and I know just the poem for it. If it is inappropriate to interject a poem right then, and I have to translate the poem to prose, I feel frustrated. I am convinced the poem said it better.

I have been accused of Showing Off, by reciting too many of my own poems in conversation, but it is hard for me to understand the accusation. To me, the purpose of poetry is communication - I'm just trying to communicate.

This illustrates one of the benefits to understanding a wider variety of the purposes of poetry. People can become confused by another's poetry, if it does not seem to pursue what THEY consider poetry's purpose. A person who believes that the whole reason for writing poetry is to create esthetic works of art, is baffled by the existence of Therapy Poetry. A person who believes that the whole purpose of poetry is to explore and express your innermost feelings, tries to read much more into flight-of-imagery poetry, or parodies, than was ever intended.

This can be frustrating. Leading into ...

Venting
Large numbers of poems are written to vent emotion: anger, anxiety, grief, longing, homesickness, love, lust. Exasperation with red tape. Annoyance at bus drivers. The overwhelming absurdity of a restaurant sign you just saw. All kinds of feelings that you have to express or bust.

Exploration
This is related to Venting, but more extended.
It may not be true that all humans always think in words, but certainly much of what passes for thinking in most of us is in words. And many of us find it easier to clarify our thoughts and our feelings if we talk them over with someone -- or just ourselves.

Free-associating on paper -- which poetry is an excellent way to do -- we can often startle ourselves with insights.

Pouring out an emotion can help us not only relieve it, but eventually understand it better; come to resolution of grief, or rage, and move on.

And sometimes just having something out in print at last can be a relief:

It Was There
Sometimes a poem just comes to you. Then you have to write it down. Then you have to share it. This is part of what being a poet is. (This is also part of what being highly annoyed by poets is.)

Hope they help and not make things worse^

WaAlaykumus Salaam

Da'watul-Allaah · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdul Baari

Assalamu Alaykum Warahamtullahi Wabarakaatuh,

Which poems ukhtee?

Anyways found these reasons on Google

Hope they help and not make things worse^

WaAlaykumus Salaam

WalaykumSalaam wArahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

JazakAllahu khairun guys,

You know for GCSE you use that anthology thing? I duno if you remember, but the poems by Simon Armitage,

Argh I hate work, I had breakfast twice today but this work is making me fall asleep, Loq.

- Serene - · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Purpose of poetry is to help you view things from another person's perspective, by exploring the other person's feelings.

Da'watul-Allaah · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Brok3n -

Purpose of poetry is to help you view things from another person's perspective, by exploring the other person's feelings.

WalaykumSalaam Warahmatullahi Wabaraktuh,

Isn't that too long of a purpose,

I thought it was meant to fit into things like inform/persuade/entertain etc.

JazakiAllah khair.

**Abdul Baari** · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah,

Lol, i just handed my Poetry Coursework in last week

but the poems were by Lawrence Ferlinghetti & Tatamkhulu Afrika.

What is the question that you have to answer?

Da'watul-Allaah · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdul Baari

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah,

Lol, i just handed my Poetry Coursework in last week

but the poems were by Lawrence Ferlinghetti & Tatamkhulu Afrika.

What is the question that you have to answer?

AsalamuAlaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

Ohh I like them poets they have nice poems, there is no question I'm menno analyse them, it's in for Wednesday but I can't even start it, 'cause I duno the purpose,

Can a purpose be: to create sympathy?

Cause one is about death.

One is I think meant to be funny, but its not working: can it be to create humour?

And the third one is just plain stoopid.

-Fady- · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

what's "Loq" ? laugh on queue? laugh out quietly? always wanna ask...sorry

to keep on-topic: I hate poetry done at school, I only like arabic (Islamic) poetry...and Islamic english poetry...but mostly arabic...

- Serene - · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

^ Laugh out quietly. It's an LI thing loq

**Muezzin** · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Ever read 'The Raven' by Edgar Allen Poe? That told me everything I ever needed to know about poetry. Google it.

Simon Armitage is also pretty dang good. I like when he described a pigeon's spreading tail feathers - 'pick a card, any card'.

-Fady- · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Brok3n -

^ Laugh out quietly. It's an LI thing loq

oh, thing is it doesn't sound good like lol. cause I actually say "lol" not "l" "o" "l"

loq sounds weird

EDIT: I mean I "read" it as lol...I don't actually say lol while talking

Da'watul-Allaah · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muezzin

Ever read 'The Raven' by Edgar Allen Poe? That told me everything I ever needed to know about poetry. Google it.

Simon Armitage is also pretty dang good. I like when he described a pigeon's spreading tail feathers - 'pick a card, any card'.

No I havn't read that one, but he's a good poet, ma teachers fav Loq,

Man what a bad idea going out now, I got tan lol, I forgot about the pc, anyone in Lu'on? Boycott the plaza!

I will google it jazakAllah khair,

AsalamuAlaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

IbnAbdulHakim · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

the question itself sounds poetic lol

and i dont get it *confused*

i always thought its to provoke thought and sometimes it just sounds nice when you read it

barney · **Re: What is the purpose of poetry? -** 05-10-2008

How does poetry differ from music?

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Da'watul-Allaah 'Slightly' mental_ Status: Offline Posts: 8,070 Reputation: 28761 Rep Power: 59 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: UK Way of Life: Muslim	What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 ^^ I mean I thought It might be to entertain, but these poems are quite dud, pls help. Loq __________________ I request all brothers and sisters to make du'aa for ME. That Allah grants me shifaa. Abu-Darda' reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) saying, "Whenever a Muslim supplicates for his Muslim brother in his absence, the angels say: `May the same be for you too'.''

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Souljette Souljette Of Allah Status: Offline Posts: 1,435 Reputation: 4746 Rep Power: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: All over the place Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 which poems are __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever”.

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- Serene - AllahIsWithDaPatient Status: Offline Posts: 12,115 Reputation: 34255 Rep Power: 69 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jus restin..as a traveller..in the shade of a tree..until I reach my destination = Jannah (Ameen)... Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 Purpose of poetry is to help you view things from another person's perspective, by exploring the other person's feelings. __________________ "Until, when death comes unto one of them, he says: My Lord! Send me back! That I may do right in that which I have left behind!" [Qur'aan, 23: 99-100] That day hasn't come yet, why do you not do good deeds?! (Click for more reminders)

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Abdul Baari LI Lil' Mod Status: Online Posts: 4,121 Reputation: 22326 Rep Power: 43 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Home Sweet Home Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah, Lol, i just handed my Poetry Coursework in last week but the poems were by Lawrence Ferlinghetti & Tatamkhulu Afrika. What is the question that you have to answer? __________________ "Hold on to the Sunnah like a lion grips its prey." Shaykh Abu Ibraheem Saud As Shuraym Allahuma Baariklana fee Rajab wa Sha'aban, wa Balaghna Ramadhaan..Aameen! A Forum Fisabeelillah...

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-Fady- Listening to Abu Ali Status: Offline Posts: 76 Reputation: 470 Rep Power: 3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 what's "Loq" ? laugh on queue? laugh out quietly? always wanna ask...sorry to keep on-topic: I hate poetry done at school, I only like arabic (Islamic) poetry...and Islamic english poetry...but mostly arabic...

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- Serene - AllahIsWithDaPatient Status: Offline Posts: 12,115 Reputation: 34255 Rep Power: 69 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jus restin..as a traveller..in the shade of a tree..until I reach my destination = Jannah (Ameen)... Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 ^ Laugh out quietly. It's an LI thing loq __________________ "Until, when death comes unto one of them, he says: My Lord! Send me back! That I may do right in that which I have left behind!" [Qur'aan, 23: 99-100] That day hasn't come yet, why do you not do good deeds?! (Click for more reminders)

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Muezzin Why so serious? Status: Offline Posts: 8,774 Reputation: 23060 Rep Power: 55 Join Date: Jun 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 Ever read 'The Raven' by Edgar Allen Poe? That told me everything I ever needed to know about poetry. Google it. Simon Armitage is also pretty dang good. I like when he described a pigeon's spreading tail feathers - 'pick a card, any card'. __________________ Pay a visit to the masters of might, magic and Monday mornings Fedora-sporting userpage

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IbnAbdulHakim iM HackeD!-!-!-! Status: Offline Posts: 14,142 Reputation: 41137 Rep Power: 80 Join Date: Feb 2006 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 the question itself sounds poetic lol and i dont get it confused i always thought its to provoke thought and sometimes it just sounds nice when you read it __________________ iDawah.com Bringing Dawah back..to the future! Shaqiq bin `Abdullah reported: The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not consider the abandonment of any action as disbelief except neglecting Salat. [At-Tirmidhi]

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barney Question EVERYTHING! Status: Offline Posts: 2,027 Reputation: 5695 Rep Power: 17 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Gender: Way of Life: Agnostic	Re: What is the purpose of poetry? - 05-10-2008 How does poetry differ from music? __________________ Occupation: *The term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Iraq 2003-2005* Liberation:*when something or someone is freed: Operation Telic 2003*