A Brief Note on Poetry

  Does poetry have more in common with music and art than it does with prose? The idea recognises, at least, that poets are creators of associative and aural interest, and that this interest, its images, sounds, and rhythms, can carry emotional, sensory, and conceptual weight. Each part of each chosen word, line and stanza contributes to the impact. Each consonant, vowel, and syllable plays a part. Each image breathes into the effect.

  Using these variables, a poet can become a creator of an invitation to enter a certain kind of experience. Each poem is a form of persuasion - yes, it says, this is a good place to come. The rhythm compels, the imagery ensnares, and what is felt and thought about extends well beyond the page. It's a lovely notion. It is achieved by writing not just with words, but also with sounds, relations, images, and a will to involve others.

"if I ignore it                         

it won't be a labyrinth    

it will be the Minotaur."

                                           Dorothy Porter