Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is in meters and verse. It is an art form. It is something that can not be judged by its cover and can not be criticized to the point where it just "sucks." Poetry is about expression. Poetry expresses the way we feel on a certain subject through imagery and other senses. It helps us deal with our daily problems, be it good or bad.

The emotion which is put within the poem brings it life. A poem without emotion is not a poem at all but simply prose. Poetry is what makes us feel happy or sad, mad or gleeful, loving or broken hearted. Poetry is life on paper. It does not need to be of a certain subject or even rhyme.

Poetry is poetry. It has its own mind. If it flows good if not... it needs work. The rules can be bent but not broken. Our life is our life and no one can tell us what we have been through but ourselves. We know best not some stranger reading our poems. Our poetry is our life, not what someone says.

Rhyming in poetry is not always the best way to express yourself. Rhyming actually takes away many words that could have been used. If you try to rhyme it cuts your dictionary into little pieces. It doesn't need to be this way, choose flow over rhyme.

As a result of this, poetry is defined as a way of putting flowing words together in meter and verse to show emotion or tell a story.

Poetry in a Nutshell is written by Gary R. Hess, author and owner of Famous Poems -- a haven for poets.

• Purpose of a Poem (and a Poem)


• Two Poems and a Commentary (...Mad City & Halo for Hell)


• Fantasy/Controversy or My Reality: Captivates


• The Misty Poets [three Poems]


• Poetry Exercises


• Four Poems: Harvest of Apoplectic Horses [Katrinas Pathway]


• Birthday Messages


• It Was Not Me


• I Shall Wait...


• Give Me a Lily Pad & The Continuum [two Poems]