MUSINGS OF A SOLIVAGANT

A 'Poetry'ic Praise

Did you ever wonder
Where from poetry came?
The prehistoric hunting poetry of Africa
And the elegiac court poetry of the Nile
Started at the time same.

Early poems in the Eurasian subcontinent
Emerged in the Chinese folk song
Epics were retold in verses
Sanskrit Vedas, Zoroastrian Gathas,
And the Homeric epics came along.

Aristotle's Poetics in ancient Greece
Incorporated rhetoric, drama and comedy
And poetry started blooming
Through the Victorian courtesans
And as devices to woo the betrothed lady.

Until poetry started growing complex
And various styles arose from the same
With each poet making their own rules
Verses, rhymes, rhythms and meters
Became the new poetry game.

But strict poetry didn't exactly woo
A lot many people after some time
And sprung Free Verses and other forms
That broke all barriers of rhyme
And sailed into random lines to chime.

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Once poetry broke the meter rule
It made a bubbling revolution start
And poetry ceased to be a writing form
And became a language of the heart.

Poetry emerged from being just literary
To speaking against issues important
Poetry became a weapon of liberation
Than just a mere romantic rant.

Lips were threatened to be sealed
Poetry thrummed in those voices
Poetry rose in the choir of protests
Against society's various vices.

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You know what the best part
Of composing poetry is?
That it can't be chained to one purpose
And changes at your own ease.

Poetry needn't have a literary flair
Poetry needn't be heavy and sad
Poetry might as well be light and fun
Or just mirror the emotions you had.

Poetry needn't be lines of praise
Poetry needn't be a way of protest
Poetry is just what poetry means to you
Which can be different from the rest.

With elegant words and exquisite feels
Lines long and short and sweet and sour
With brewing emotions in its cove
Poetry has become the need of the hour.

HAPPY WORLD POETRY DAY

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Author's Note: Poetry has been integrated with our lives from the very start. From the nursery rhymes to the songs we hear, everything is verses, everything is poetry! My poetic journey has now been over 9 years (3 on Wattpad) and over this time, there are a few poetries that stayed ingrained in my mind, especially Robert Frost, Alfred Tennyson and Elizabeth Browning. But once I started my journey here, I realised how versatile poetry can be and poetry became a part of my life, a part of who I am, rather than what I write.

This poem is dedicated to my favourite poet on Wattpad cchinu, partly for writing such gorgeous and fun poetry and partly for involving me in his poetry games.

If you love poetry, you'd definitely like his book 'Poetry Shots', a collection of little poems on various titbits which will make you smile! Also, he has three other poetry books besides poetry stories and so much more. Feel free to drop by my reading list "From the Wizard's Hat" and choose whatever you like haha...

See you all again someday when inspiration strikes...