Poetry Analysis: Promises Like Pie Crust, by Christine Rosetti

The Perfect Pie Crust

Christina Georgina Rossetti ( 1830-1984), a poetess born in London, England , leaves a legacy of romantic, devotional and children's poetry. (1)

Take a moment to read this piece of poetry, taking into consideration the figurative language and the metaphor of the perfect pie crust inevitably crumbling, as one bites into it.

Promises Like Pie-Crust: Christina Georgina Rossetti

Promise me no promises,
So will I not promise you:
Keep we both our liberties,
Never false and never true:
Let us hold the die uncast,
Free to come, as free to go:
For I cannot know your past,
And of mine, what can you know?

You, so warm, may once have been
Warmer towards another one:
I, so cold, may once have seen
Sunlight, once have felt the sun:
Who shall show us if it was
Thus indeed in time of old?
Fades the image from the glass,
And the fortune is not told.

If you promised, you might grieve
For lost liberty again:
If I promised, I believe
I should fret to break the chain.
Let us be the friends we were,
Nothing more, but nothing less:
Many thrive on frugal fare
Who would perish of excess. (2)

As I read through this poetry, I am reminded of the words of one of my professors. He said that a person can make promises, but promises, by their very nature, are destined to be broken.

If one considers the origin of the word promise, it dates back to the fifteenth century and is used many times, with respect to betrothal. There is a degree of obligation that is encompassed in the word promise, as it is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something that is specified. It also gives the person to whom the promise is made a right to claim that which has been promised. It can be considered as legally binding in some contexts. (3)

But, if one does not make promises, then one cannot break those promises either.

In some ways, this is a melancholic poem and yet in its own way, it is romantic, but romantic in a way that maintains the relationship on the level of friends, rather than lovers. True lovers invariably are friends, first.

Somehow, lovers not making promises that have to be kept to the significant other, demonstrate a higher or more elevated kind of love, than lovers who merely make and break their promises.

Freedom is a wonderful aspect of love, where there are no promises made and thus, no promises broken. 

The true lover sets his or her lover free.

There is an old saying.

"Set a bird free; if it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not come back, it never was."

Obviously, the poetess is requesting the same non-promise, from the person who she loves dearly. There is no obligation with respect to disclosure of the other and no inquiry into the possibility of previous lovers.

Sometimes, just allowing love to be love and lovers to be lovers is sufficient. While it does seem like frugal fare on another plane of thought, perhaps the agony of unfulfilled and broken promises is far greater.

There are times when people who love one another sincerely, know that for whatever reason, that love has to and will remain unrequited. There can be a certain amount of pain in this kind of a relationship, but perhaps the reality of a higher plane of love numbs that pain.

It is sufficient that "I love you and you love me."

Promises, from a divine perspective, are perfect promises that can and will be kept. After all, in a heavenly realm, everything is perfect. On a human plane of existence, promises have an element of imperfection.

Even though it is possible to keep some promises, it is more than likely that her awareness of the reality of love, on the human plane of existence, rather than on the divine plane of existence, has led Christian Georgina Rossetti to write this wonderful piece of poetry.

The perfect pie-crust crumbles.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Rossetti

(2) http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/crossetti/bl-crossetti-promise.htm

(3) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield MA, 1983

Can Bad Poetry Have Value?

An inappropriate question

In response to this debate question, one can only respond that this is an inappropriate question. 

No, bad poetry cannot have value because there is no such thing as bad poetry. There is only poetry. 

Bad versus good is subjective. In other words, it is how you see it. Bad is a word that is misused in terms of its application to poetry; so is the word good. Bad implies a moral judgment of some kind, as does the use of the word good. This question should be re-phrased.

When one looks at something, whether it is poetry or not, it can be categorized as good or bad, depending upon how one sees it. No two people see everything exactly the same way and that is a good thing. Our world would be terribly boring, if we all saw everything exactly the same way, as everyone else.

Look at some examples with respect to poetry.

For instance, consider an example in which there is no rhyme. Does that make it a bad piece of poetry or is it just one that has no rhyme? Something lacking in a piece of poetry does not necessarily render it either good or bad. all poetry does not have to rhyme. 

Next, consider the situation in which there is an error in a piece of poetry. It could be considered bad poetry because it has an error, but does that make it bad? With a correction of that error, it could be considered good poetry, by the same person.

What if there are lines that repeat a thought? To some, that might indicate bad poetry, but to others, repetition means emphasis. Emphasis in a piece of poetry can be good, rather than bad.

Look at the use of inappropriate language. Does that render a piece of poetry bad? Probably not to some, but to others, it could be considered horrific. Place the problem of the poetry in its proper perspective. It has inappropriate language, which can be corrected, if one takes the time and energy to do so.

Poetry expresses what a poet is attempting to state. He or she can succeed or fail to state that which is intended. There are times when things are inadequately expressed, at least in our biased judgment. At the same time, that same piece of poetry may have stated exactly what the poet intended the poem to state. Is that good or bad? Again, this cannot be a judgment call.

Perfect poetry could only come from God, as everything in the heavenly realm would be perfect or would it be? Perhaps perfection, on a higher plane of thought, has to include a degree of imperfection and it is that imperfection which creates difference and distinguishes one poet's poetry from another's.

Maybe we could suggest that only poetry from God is good. In that case, there could be no good poetry from any human being. But, one has to argue that everything comes from God. Being from God, it all has to be good. Again, we remove the good versus bad judgment factor, because every human being, as a poet, is on the same plane of existence. We are all human.

"To err is human, to forgive is divine."

It is possible that poetry can be an inspiration from God, penned by the hand of a human poet. One might suggest that this would definitely be good poetry, but then, which person is qualified to name the source of the poetry? Who is willing and able to play the role of the divine judge? Obviously, no human being is qualified to do that.

Since there is no such a thing as bad poetry, how can one compare it with what is good poetry? Poetry is poetry, always was and ever will be. How we choose to interpret it, is strictly up to us.

Poets can be extremely critical of each other's poetry. It is like stating, "You don't write poetry like I do, so that makes yours bad and mine good!" 

Or, on the other hand, "I don't write poetry the way you do, so that makes mine bad and yours good."

There is always the battle for the king on the throne, in every field of endeavor. The king sits on the top of the totem pole, but everyone else is in a position to take a potshot at him. The same is true if one refers to a queen instead of a king. The good is on the throne and the bad is not? What is this throne or does it exist in any kind of a real world?

Vying for topnotch in anything is like asking for instant death. The good is targeted and annihilated. It is idealized. On the other hand, it can be mocked or ridiculed.

Most of us do not understand poetry well enough to make any kind of a judgment call about it. If we do, we are more than likely making a serious error in judgment.

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

Judging a piece of poetry is like judging the poet. He or she stands judged as good or bad, by whatever piece of poetry is under scrutiny, at that moment in time.

There is poetry, not good or bad poetry and thus, asking the question "Can bad poetry have value?" would seem to be an inappropriate question.

All poetry has value.

How to Find Your True Passion

Love is the ultimate passion

Love is the answer to the question of how to find your true passion and also, the ultimate passion of life. Thus, the quest for finding one's true passion in life ultimately becomes one of how to find love. Love has a complexity, multiplicity and diversity of expressions, so where does one begin to look to find love?

Perhaps we comprehend in part, the Passion of Christ with His intense, divine Love for humankind. At best, our most elaborate human expression of love, barely expresses any passion at all, in comparison to His pain and suffering, coupled with the ultimate celebration of joy.

We, as human beings, tend to settle for lesser passions, which become the primary focus of our lives. Living life without a passion of some kind, would seem to be nearly impossible, because there has to be something that every person, as a human being, is truly passionate about, at least to some degree. We may or may not recognize that particular passion in our lives.

Looking at human expressions of love, or looking for human expressions of love, one sees many different ways that true passion can be expressed. A passion is often manifested in terms of one's emotion.

We can begin by asking a person, what he or she loves. That may or may not reveal what one is passionate about or what one's true passion in life actually is. That simple, but extremely complex question, may assist that person to focus on his or her true passion in life.

Most people have some idea of what they are at least, mildly passionate about, but not everyone. They may state that they like something, enjoy doing it or are interested in pursuing that interest, at least to some degree. But actually finding one's true passion? That is another question. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack and a very tiny one at that.

"What is your true passion in life?"

That is not a good question to ask anyone, because the answer that you will probably get will be, "I don't know." 

Ask yourself that question first. Do you know what your passion in life really is? You probably do not know either.

It is much easier to look for something when you know what you are looking for, isn't it? Essentially, what this is stating, is the reality that if a person knows what his or her passion in life is, then it is a whole lot easier to find it. But then, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Love, by its very nature, is extremely evasive, so the quest to find one's true passion in life in terms of love, is not an easy one. Fear and love often go hand in hand. Hate is the ultimate expression of fear. Joy is ultimate expression of love. This becomes a web, where the four emotions demonstrate a certain degree of entanglement.

When one begins to search for his or her passion, there can be an intense driving force that triggers that inquiry. It can be almost like an obsession, something beyond a person's control. It is like the poet having to write poetry, because he or she has no peace of mind, until what must be penned has been penned or the artist not resting, until he or she has painted a picture that has to be painted.

Passion can range from a quiet level of interest or desire, to a much more intense passion that is akin to human love, which can vary in range from the quiet blossoming of a tender, beautiful rose to the intensity of an angry sea of hopelessness, rage and despair.

At the best of times, passion appears to wear some kind of a mysterious mask and remains almost unfathomable, until such a time, as there is revelation that just appears to happen.

Fervor is often used to depict passion in a way that is a warm, but steady kind of an emotion that one feels. Ardor, on the other hand, suggests something that is exciting and warm too, but for some reason it does not seem to last very long. Enthusiasm demonstrates a rather lively and eager interest in something. Zeal is also synonymous with passion and it has an element of relentless pursuit. (1)

One might suggest that one's passion in life can appear to change. It is like a child who is passionate about ice cream, at one moment and then, toy trucks, a few seconds later.

Does one's true passion have that changeability too?

Perhaps it is the difference between liking something, at the moment and loving something more, the moment one's focus changes. It is not wrong for a child to like ice cream and to love toy trucks. As a matter of fact, it is fun to watch the transition of expression on the child's face, as he goes from one passion to another.

Love enters into the realm of sexual interest or desire, which some may assume to be their passion in life. Its expression can be on many different planes of existence, including literary or artistic, rather than on a purely interpersonal level.

Passion can be interpreted as the way a person feels about something, totally apart from the realm of love, on any plane. This gamut of feeling can go from mild feelings to very intense ones. For example, one can be happy or unhappy, when employed in an area where his or her primary focus is on something that he or she feels strongly about.

Again, totally apart from love and its expression, one can have anger, grief, sorrow, pain or sadness associated with those feelings. For example, a painting can trigger pain, because it represents a horrific event. There is no apparent love or hate involved, but there is passion in terms of feeling.

Because one seeks to know his or her passion in life and may or may not recognize what it actually is, there is an element of revelation required. A person can work forever on something and not realize that he or she is actually expressing his or her passion in life. Then, suddenly there is a knowing or an all consuming knowledge.

To find your true passion is more like finding your calling in life. Are you called to be a poet, a writer, a teacher, an artist, a musician or whatever? How do you know?

The reality is that you will know. Knowledge reveals one's true passion.

Going back to the topic of Love, but on a divine plane, such knowledge comes in terms of revelation. Love reveals one's true passion through knowledge.

Finding one's true passion is not a quest that one can venture on lightly, because it may become all consuming, by its very nature. Some people have a passion for space travel and will try to get there, even if it ultimately costs them their lives. Others are on worldly quest for material goods. Some people just want to know God.

Maybe you are a person, who wants to take the most perfect photograph in the world. Or, perhaps you want to write the most outrageous novel of all times. Perhaps your ultimate passion has to do with designing an electric car.

Ask yourself, if you are trying to figure out what your one, true passion in life really is, what do you think about when you go to bed at night? How about when you wake up in the morning? Is there something that you really want to do, in fact would love to do, more than anything else in the entire world?

Then, go and do it.

You may have just found your passion in life. My guess is that it will be love related, in some way. Quite possibly, you may love it and hate it, at times, too. You will love it because it is what you want out of life or in life, but you may hate it because it eludes you.

Life is kind of complex, but it is fun. Figuring out what your true passion in life really is can present a challenge.

Love is the ultimate passion.

(1) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, MA, 1983

Is it Better to Write a Poem Based on Experience or Based on Opinion?

A touch of heart: Experience

Is it better to write a poem based on experience or based on opinion? In this debate, I will argue that it is better to write a poem based on experience, because when poetry is written that way, it has ‘a touch of heart’.

Living can only be accomplished in terms of experience. While opinion is a part of life too, experience is the real thing.

What constitutes experience?

The word experience dates back to the fourteenth century and is rooted in the Latin word experientia or the act of trying. In the French context, it is experiens or to try. It involves some kind of a direct perception, a personal observation or the active participation in some kind of an event, that leads to positive knowledge. (1)

What constitutes opinion?

Opinion is also a word that comes from the fourteenth century, from the Latin word opinion, but this is a person's view, some kind of a judgment or appraisal that comes from a person's mind. It is more than an impression, but it really does not constitute positive knowledge. (2)

Apply both of these to the art of writing poetry and while each one may have its own place, the stronger of the two would definitely be that of experience, because it is based on direct or positive knowledge. Opinion is not positive knowledge.

In some ways, it is like making a comparison between first hand knowledge and second hand knowledge. With first hand knowledge, it is something that a person knows, because he or she sees it. With second hand knowledge, it is something that a person knows, because someone has told him or her about it.

For example, what happens when one beholds the expression of wonder on a child's face, when he or she sees a beautiful flower, for the first time. Putting that reality into poetry is different that writing poetry about something that someone has been told about. For example, the mother who sees the child's expression, tells the father about it or vice versa. The mother is definitely in a better position to write reality poetry than the father.

Somewhere along the way, another person telling about the experience, loses its potency or its power of impact. Why is that? It is because having the actual experience touches the heart of a person. Opinion may also do the same thing, but to a much lesser degree.

Here is another example. 

If I see a double rainbow or someone tells me about their experience of seeing exactly the same thing as I saw, as a poet, which would I choose to write about? To actually see a double rainbow, especially when it appears to be quite close, is a fantastic experience. It has impact. To have someone else see it and then tell me about it, is never going to have that same kind of potency or power.

First hand experience is always superior to opinion in terms of writing poetry. 

How do I know? I write poetry from my own first hand experiences, not from those of other people. I write about what touches my heart.

A touch of heart happens when one experiences something first hand. It is like love being kindled, in some way and thus, I will suggest that it is always better to write a poem based on experience than on opinion.

(1) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, MA, 1983

(2) Ibid.

Does Poetry Matter in the 21st Century

Poetry is like an oracle.

With respect to the debate question, 'does poetry matter in the 21st century', this response is in the affirmative. Yes, there are a number of good reasons why poetry matters in the 21st century. If poetry has ever mattered throughout the course of history, it matters just as much now, if not more so, than it has in the past.

"Why is this?"

Consider the following thoughts and ideas about the role of poetry.

There is an element of poetry that has always intrigued and fascinated the human mind. Poetry is a wonderful mode of expression. It is like an oracle that appears on the horizon of life and announces a new reality to the world.

Poetry frequently reveals a solemn word of truth or of divine wisdom, that may or may not have been expressed or recognized as such, previously. Sometimes, it is unexpected when it appears.

People interact through the use of poetry, as poetry is a basic mode of communication, all around the world, both in the form of words that are spoken and those that are sung. As the global population continues to increase, there is more of a need for ongoing communication.

Poetry represents a peaceful, literary mode of expression and communication, while there are many other kinds of communication, that are much less civilized. We always need communication on a higher plane.

The voice of the poet often reflects the voice of the people. Throughout history, there have always been those who have spoken to others on behalf of the people, in the form of poetry.

Often, the words of the poet have been successfully preserved and thus, we have numerous historical records, in the form of various kinds of poetry. Passing on history by means of oral tradition, in the form of poetry, has never  disappeared. The events of the day, as well as the joys and the sorrows of the people are still being recorded in poems and songs.

Poetry often reflects a prophetic voice for the future. It would appear that sometimes, many generations later, there is a prophetic word of some kind, found in the earlier writings of a poet. While the people of the poet's generation may not have been aware that it was a prophecy, it is recognized as such, at a later date.

In many ways, poetry reflects the reality of the various changes, in our era. We live in a world that is continually changing and that change is recorded by poets, in the form of poetry. It is important that change is documented throughout the course of history. In order for our world to become a better, more humane world, we need to be able to see the transition of thinking, by people everywhere and its outworking, in terms of reality's best expression of human thought, which comes to us as love.

Poetry will always have literary merit regardless of its genre and thus, one must conclude that poetry does matter in the 21st century.

Poets are people and people are poets: Society needs poets

Asking the debate question of whether society needs poets, is like asking whether society needs people. Poets are people and people are poets.

"Does society need people?"

That would be a ridiculous question. Yes, society needs poets, as there would not be any society without people. Poets are an important part of society, for many reasons.

Examine this question more fully, in the light of the significance of poets and poetry in society.

"What is the role of poets in society?"

Poets are the voice of the past.

The poet represents the voice of the past, echoing and re-echoing the history of humankind throughout the generations.

Poets are the voice of the present.

The poet represents the voice of the present, reflecting current joys and sorrows, fears and frustrations, troubles and tensions, as well as aggressions and anxieties.

Poets are the voice of the future.

The poet represents the prophetic voice of the future, with all of humanity's inherent potential, in combination with its expectations.

"What is the role of poetry in society?"

Poetry is an effective and appropriate mode of communication among people all around the globe.

Poetry reveals the different aspects of human inspiration.

Poetry functions as form of expression, for the thoughts and feelings of humankind with respect to beauty and truth.

Poetry is an element of worship on a global plane of human existence.

Human beings can laugh at themselves, because of the comic element in poetry.

Truths that may not be revealed, in other ways, are often expressed in poetry.

The magnificence, magnitude and mysteries of nature are revealed in poetry.

The positive and negative aspects of life and death are portrayed in poetry.

Day to day life is recorded in poetry. 

Poetry offers a continuation of the oral tradition via songs and stories that are passed on from one generation to the next.

The hopes, dreams and aspirations of humankind are revealed in poetry.

Consider this for just a moment. Without poets and poetry, all of these aspects of life would be missing. 

Taking these thoughts and ideas into the context of society as a whole, one can only suggest that poets are needed in society. Poets are people and people are poets.

The Importance of Love in Finding a Purpose in LIfe

Love is like a light

What does love have to do with finding a life purpose? Perhaps the importance of love in finding a life purpose is far more significant than you realize, at this time. Maybe you, like many other people, are just wandering through life. It is like existing in a dark, empty void or roaming around in the wilderness, with no apparent direction. You are entering and exiting through the various channels and challenges of life, but you are not really going anywhere or doing anything that has any purpose, meaning or significance. Maybe you are lost in life's maze. It is like living a life of mere existence and nothing else.

The days come and go. Weeks and months pass by, without you having anything to show for the time that is fleeing. Years fly by and life still has no apparent meaning. It is like trying to find your way in the shadows of darkness, prior to the dawn, as you stumble on the rocks and branches that strewn across the pathways of life, which seem to go nowhere in particular.

All of a sudden love enters the picture and your whole world seems brighter.

"Why is that so?" you might ask.

Consider the following thoughts about love for a moment.

Love is like a brilliant light that suddenly bursts into our lives.

It is as if the sun has somehow risen on the horizon and begins reflecting and radiating the fullness of its beautiful rays, into our lives. Dawn breaks up the darkness of the blackest night with its sheer brilliance. Love works that way, when it miraculously appears in our lives.

Love is like a white light that brings color into our world.

Instead of the darkness of the night, with its interplay of various shades of black and gray, there is the full spectrum of life's color that can be found in the color white. The awakening of love is akin to walking out of a dark tunnel into the full light of the noonday sun. All of the shadows are dispelled, as the colors begin to bounce around. We need the entire spectrum of the colors found in white light to brighten our world. We all need love in our lives. .

Love is like a beam of light that helps us to focus on our world.

In the lingering fog of early morning, focusing on anything specific in the distance is difficult. It seems as if everything is glazed with a mist of non-distinction. In its own way, this has a certain degree of beauty, but even the mountain range in the distance is not visible to the naked eye. How can a person get to the mountain range, unless one knows where it lies? Can one see the mountain peak before there is some kind of a light that reveals it? The beam of light originating from love, helps us to find that mountain peak. It even challenges us to climb it.

Love is like a dynamic light that generates fresh energy and excitement in our lives.

There is something about light that brings forth the desire of grass to grow, a flower to blossom, a bee to collect honey and a hummingbird to sip nectar from a honeysuckle. Love does that to us. It energizes us and invigorates us. It triggers our spontaneity and causes us to interact with others.

Love is like the full spectrum of light that colors our lives, like an artist painting a rainbow.

The colors of the rainbow are soft, gentle, pastel colors with the intimacy of perfection, as they transition from one color to the next. Suddenly, we apprehend the beauty of nature in rainbow colors, all around us. Looking closely, we can find every possible color that there is in our world, when we look through the eyes of love. It causes us to marvel at creation.

Love is like a revealing light that awakens the mysterious elements in our lives.

What has long been concealed or hidden in our thoughts, feelings and hearts is immediately aroused, as the penetrating and revealing light of love enters into our realm of discovery. Curiosity is aroused, as we seek to explore our inner and outer worlds. Love brings us into touch with reality, gives us the courage to explore life fully and even to seek God.

Love is like a light, but more importantly, it gives us a purpose, a reason to live. Focus on love. Love is your purpose in life.

Thoughts on Uncertainty

Certainty versus uncertainty: Love is certain

If there is one thing that we can be certain about in the lives of human beings, it is uncertainty. Everyone has a degree of uncertainty. No one is exempt from that phenomenon. Exactly the same thing may be said about certainty. Everyone has some degree of certainty in their lives, as well.

So, we have both certainty and uncertainty. At times, it comes down to certainty versus uncertainty. Which one is correct? What does it mean to be certain or uncertain about something?

A pessimist will argue that something is uncertain, like the question of life after death. An optimist might argue that life after death is certain. Who is right?

It would appear to be related to one's subjective perception, in this instance. Obviously, the pessimist and the optimist do not see or perceive the same way, in terms of their own subjectivity. Do they need to see the same way? Or, is there something wonderful in our world that allows room for opposing subjective perceptions?

A person's objective perception plays a distinct role in the question of certainty versus uncertainty. Objective perception can differ from one individual to another. For example, one person states that he saw a blue car leaving the scene of an accident. He is certain. Another person states that the car was not blue, but green. He is certain too. Who is right?

Then, one has to take into consideration the degree of certainty or uncertainty and the question as to whether or not a person is totally certain, or only partly certain about something. On a scale of one to a hundred, is the certainty fixed at five, fifteen, fifty five or one hundred percent. Anything less than one hundred percent certainty could be regarded as uncertainty, by some.

"I am one hundred percent convinced that what I know about that subject is right."

"I am only about twenty five percent certain that what I know about that subject is right. There may be some variables that I have not taken into consideration yet."

Then, there is the proof that offers further certainty or the lack thereof, which leads to uncertainty. Sifting all of the evidence becomes important in ascertaining whether something is certain. If there is a lack of proof, then how can something be certain?

Herein enters the realm of faith.

Use love as an example. One thing that we know for certain is that there is love, in our world. We may not be able to touch it or to feel it all of the time, but by faith, we can know or be certain that it does exist.

Love is very abstract and complex. Is it possible to concretize it, so that we can have absolute certainty? If we don't have absolute certainty, is it then uncertain, at least to a degree?

We look closely at our perception of love, how we discern it, what we have been taught about it or know instinctively about it. We tear apart all of the uncertainty to the best of our abilities. Lining up all of the facts, the proofs, the manifestations, every piece of evidence that we can possibly find, does not negate it.

If anything, it re-enforces the concept, as a reality. Love is certain. That idea is fixed in our minds. We make a judgment, come to a conclusion and face a reality that the existence of love cannot be denied. Weighing every argument to the contrary, we can only conclude that love exists.

But, has it been proven to be true? Perhaps the pessimist may still argue against it. Maybe the person who saw the car in a different color will insist on another shade of gray or two, in his or her discernment.

Is it one hundred percent pure love or true love? Or, is it at best imperfect love? If it is imperfect love, is love then still certain? Or, is it uncertain?

How reliable is the source? Is it one hundred percent reliable or has it been colored, in some way? Is it totally indisputable, or are there reasonable arguments to suggest evidence to the contrary?

If one argues that faith is not something that needs to be proven, then believing in the certainty of love should be sufficient. But, if it has to be proven, then the skeptic may wind up searching forever for his or her proof. Uncertainty always has an element of doubt.

Is love fact or fiction? Is it a reality versus a non-reality?

The debate about certainty versus uncertainty is something that will always keep us inquiring further. 

Love is certain.

How to Write an Effective, Short Love Poem

An epiphany of nature

An epiphany of nature

Short love poetry is like an epiphany. Can anyone explain how an epiphany occurs or what it is? The word epiphany suggests the manifestation or the appearance of something, as well as some kind of an intuitive grasp on truth, which in this case, would find its expression in a short poem about love.

Unless love is revealed in some way, like an epiphany or is manifested in the poetry, via some mode of expression that can be grasped as love, it cannot be considered to be effective poetry. The question becomes one of how to write effective love poetry.

"How can you make your poem portray love?"

There is the issue of attempting to create a short love poem.

"How many words does it take to express love?"

Consider these tips about how to write an effective short love poem.

Title

The title of an effective, short love poem should immediately alert the reader to the true focus of the poem. Love is elusive in nature, has an element of mystery and a whimsical element. Encompass that into the title. 

For example, use the titles "Love", "I Love" or "I Love You". All of those titles convey specific messages that catch the reader's attention, immediately. Use powerful words in your title, ones that pierce the heart tenderly.

The body of the poem

Keeping the body of the poem short presents a challenge for the love poet, because there is a limitation to the number of words that can be used, but love can be expressed without words, with very few words or with so many words that the world would turn a deaf ear. Sometimes, just one word can state what many others cannot express.

For example, describe the feeling of puppy love, when a young boy meets a girl for the first time. "Woof!"

Try writing a piece of poetry about a teenage girl's love for her pony. Be specific about the subject. "My Beauty!" 

Both of these titles have immediate impact and draw the attention of the reader. Now, the task becomes that of expanding upon the title, showing insight beyond mere experience. Use words that depict the full gamut of emotion like love or hate, joy or sorrow, as well as fear or no fear.

Abstract versus concrete

You can write poetry in a way that is abstract. For example, try writing a piece of poetry about the refection of the moon on the water, as seen through the eyes of young lovers. 

"The light of the moon caresses the ripples."

The love of the moon for the ripples in the water depicts the feelings or the reality of the lives and actions of lovers. Draw inspiration from nature and its wonderful elements of mystery, to convey what you feel. Magnify and convey the intensity of your own feelings.

Free poetry

Poets love to free poetry from its constraints. Excessive verbiage can force a poem into verbal bondage, jeopardizing its credibility as a poem. Free poetry is just that. It is free. It is free from vast volumes of descriptive imagery, the limitations and restrictions of sentence structure, binding rhythm or rhyme and the necessity of non-essential and non-significant words. For example, write a piece of poetry about the freedom of the wind, but only use words that express the wind's total freedom from structure of any kind.

Rhythm and Rhyme

Rhythm and rhyme play together like the colors of the rainbow, blending into one another in silent intimacy, but almost unspoken with respect to happenstance. This occurs without any earth shattering awakening, but it is like an epiphany of nature that manifests itself in total beauty. 

For example, write a short poem about how you loved the most beautiful dawn or sunset, that you can remember in your entire life. Find a rhythm that sings and rhyme that swings. 

For more playful rhyme and rhythm, touch the chords of an old, nursery rhyme momentarily and keep that rhythm going, putting in your own verbal expression. Children's love poetry does not contain a lot of words, but it does contain a lot of meaning, that is expressed simply. 

For example, try a title like "My Grandaddy and Me". Read that title a number of different ways and see what kind of rhythm and rhyme flows.

Closure

Closing a poem at exactly the right moment in time is vital in order to maintain the integrity of the poem. Taking it too far, defeats its original purpose, so bring it to a close, where it is appropriate. Here is where you need a punch line, a surprise ending, a revelation of the signification of the poem for humankind. Simplify the ending of your poem in such a way that it will never be forgotten. It will make the reader ask, "Why did I not think of that?"

Words

Love poetry has many potent words that are expressive of love with its complexity, diversity and multiplicity of expression. Perhaps the most powerful expression comes in the non-verbal expression that is realized as the epiphany resolves itself. What is left unsaid can be far more powerful than anything that might have been stated. Keep the words simple enough so that the reader knows intuitively what you are stating. Sometimes an element of mystery works, but not always.

Remember that the true nature of love is such that it cannot be contained. It will be expressed and perhaps, it will be your pen that brings forth its ultimate expression. Keep your poetry short, sweet and full of powerful feelings, regardless of what you are depicting, and it will be an effective, short love poem.