Guest post by Jeff Boire

Many people, objects, and actions are described as poetic, but what describes a poem, poetry as a craft, or the inspiring poet? What is that, which measures poetic endeavor? How does this written art compare with prose? Everyone from the literary expert to the casual reader or writer may have a different perspective regarding the answers to the previous questions.

What describes a poem, poetry as a craft, or the inspiring poet?

In my opinion, a poem is a window into the writer’s soul, transporting the reader without barriers in time or space. Poetry as a craft is a written journey of imagination, without limitations. The inspiring poet is a strikingly articulate individual with a gift of transcribing his or her thoughts and emotions concisely and confidently yet humbled that the reader will develop his or her own perception. I have discovered some professional perspectives parallel to my thoughts. A Poem: “A poem should not mean -But be”, Archibald MacLeish. Poetry: “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words”, Robert Frost. “Poets are masters of us ordinary men, in knowledge of the mind, because they drink at streams which we have not yet made accessible to science”, Sigmund Freud. A poem, inadvertently describes itself in a way no other endeavor or object is able to accomplish.

What is that which measures poetic endeavor?

Yes rules exist. The classics and others adamantly follow the rules. However, by form and meter alone, a poem should not be measured. The reader has the criteria internally for developing appreciation for different works. You may be moved by the words because you relate unequivocally to the intended message or articulated emotion. You may be motivated by the adversity or positivity demonstrated. You may be inspired by a poet to try writing yourself. The question then is not how do we measure poetic endeavor, but how do we measure ourselves, our perceptions, our imaginations by poetic endeavors?

How does this written art compare with prose?

Consequently prose is oriented by the details, albeit colorful at times but obviously lengthy and occasionally cumbersome. Mark Twain wrote in a letter to W.D. Howells on 2/25/1906 the following, “What a lumbering poor vehicle prose is for the conveying of a great thought! …Prose wanders around with a lantern & laboriously schedules & verifies the details & particulars of a valley & its frame of crags & peaks, then Poetry comes, & lays bare the whole landscape with a single splendid flash.” I believe Mr. Clemens is spot on. With poetry comes a sharpness and speed of visionary quality as if comparing prose to the laborious painting of a picture versus the instantaneous close of a camera shutter. Yet the influence of the experience and imagination of the reader is a key facet of understanding. Given the communication is written from the author’s perception or the poet’s perspective the reader without notice, applies his or her experience and imagination spinning the intended message. Conversely the reader may also develop an underlying objective or represent an unintended message from the reading. Allow me to present some of my verses that describe the very nature of this phenomenon:

Another Late Night

By Jeff Boire

Another late night and here I
write to take a break from studies
to form a journey of words, why?
stimulate creative psyches

To honor the poets of lore
whose timeless words written before
lead the reader into the heart
and mind of a time or of art

Or of dreams as it seems to me
the real or surreal, flying free
captivating the mind, forming
perception, focus, yet warming

After all sometimes confusion
questions, wonder, or delusion
The words run on a dry paper
Running in circles, no vapor

Spinning and twisting the meaning
is kind of lost and yet seeming
to form something entirely
new and clever, deceptively

Timeless as it were, have I said
this before? Yet define this thread
For once all of this written art
Is read, no matter of how smart

One thinks at the time, perception
changes late, without exception
once read is not finally or
completely understood, explore

And read over and again once
more, observing the brilliance
the spirit, emotion, of dreams
Inspiring you, yes, as it seems

Diverse perception is the poet’s reality, the multifaceted view of perspectives, visions, and imaginations. If but one reader discovers poetry from my writing, I would be satisfied. He or she may inspire another and so on and so forth. Continue reading as much as you can and discover the pleasure you can derive from writing yourself!

About the author:
Jeff Boire is a sales professional by day and a writer by night. He grew up in the town of Lancaster, MA, leaving at the age of 17 to serve in the Navy. While serving, he earned three Navy Achievement Medals, the third of which was presented to him by a three star Admiral. His career involves years in both machining and sales. He has a beautiful daughter, Aarilyn, who he affectionately refers to occasionally as his little hummingbird, but mostly as Dot. While Jeff appreciates the written word and prose, he is having a love affair with poetry. His fiance is aware of this situation and is okay with it for now…

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