Definitions: (1) possessing the peculiar beauties of harmony; sublime rhythm; (2) imaginative; (3) language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and cadence; written or spoken word formulating a concentrated imaginative awareness of an experience
Poetry:
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em,
know when to fold ’em [— Donald Allen Schlitz Jr. (1952-) American songwriter]
is a very instructive poem.
Comment: All poetry is communicative; some is popular and some is evocative. Whatever is wonderful and good can be fused with culture. Words are a way to touch many people at once.
Quote: Diotima now describes how mortals strive for immortality. In all begetting and bringing forth upon the beautiful, there is a kind of making or poiesis (“poetry” in the wide sense of “creating”). In this genesis there is a movement beyond the temporal cycle of birth and decay. “Such a movement can occur in three kinds of poiesis: 1) Natural poiesis through sexual procreation, 2) poiesis in the city through the attainment of heroic fame, and finally 3) poiesis in the soul through the cultivation of virtue and knowledge.” — Plato (428-328 BC) Symposium {385–370 BC}
Symbol: words
Historic Figures: 1) Homer (8th Century BC) The Father of Epic poetry; 2) Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) The Father of English poetry
Mythological Figures: 1) Erato, the Muse who presided over lyric poetry; 2) Bragi, the Scandinavian god of eloquence and poetry; 3) Calliope, Greek and Roman Muse of eloquence and heroic poetry