Words Speak to the Mind, but Poetry Sings to the Soul

If I could sing well, I’d hardly ever feel the need to speak

I’ve always been a wannabe poet, and I say wannabe because while I do write half-decent poetry every now and then, the thoughts and the words don’t flow as I like them to, as often as I’d want them to.

Yet, poetry is a form of writing I admire more than any other. There’s a beauty to words strung in a poetic song, like no other.

As the master poet William Wordsworth puts it beautifully,

Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity.

If I said anything more than that I’d disturb the tranquillity and commit a sin. So I’ll instead delve straight into my favorite poems from the past few days, and take you through a serene journey with these great poets.

I Refuse to Work — by Wanita Isaacs

She puts into words a conundrum we all go through every day. Have you ever dreamt of doing everything you want, and everything you need but not playing by the rules and doing it on your own terms?

Isn’t that just the dream for all of us?

But it hardly seems a balance that can ever be achieved — not if you see it from Wanita’s eyes.

I want delight. I’m greedy, I guess For moments daily to dwell upon In other moments — I must confess, I’m a hoarder of moments.

Athenian Rhapsody by Patrick M. Ohana

Have you ever read something you know is beautiful and amazing, to the extent that you may not fully comprehend it because it is beyond the limited capacity of your senses, but you know it must be shared on?

This is one of those pieces. I know there’s a message, I know there’s a song to the soul, do I know how to describe it? I wish I was as deep a thinker. Of course, it is also a play on the famous Bohemian Rhapsody, as you’ll see.

But I’ll let Patrick tell you in his own words:

I’m just a writer, nobody reads me He’s just a writer, only a few read him Give him a chance to be read in this world Here I write, you don’t read, will you read it all

The Man Who Wasn’t There — By Nasar Karim

This masterpiece can be interpreted by you as you will, just like much of the greatest poetry. To me, Nasar talks about a father-figure, almost a God in the terms that humans often call the divine — watching over us at all times, yet never being there.

Maybe Nasar is talking about him, or maybe about another mystery man, but you must read this to find out for yourself.

How long he sat in that repose Before he silently arose And left the scene an empty space Without a name put to the face.

I Choose a Life of Happiness and Love — By Dr Preeti Singh

A writer and person I deeply respect, now also to my pleasant realization, a beautiful poet, Dr Singh is a multi-faceted genius.

In this poem, she tells us about how she thinks of her life amongst the countless choices we have every day. We’re often busy complaining about what life throws at us, but seldom can we appreciate the many amazing things it also has on offer, but that we choose to ignore. This beautiful message in a poem will probably make you think more positively about your life.

I choose to live a life of beauty, In the midst of the bounty of nature To receive energy from the sun| To be bestowed with grace from the moon.

The Wig — By Thewriteyard

Another one of those, seemingly factual, but vastly open to interpretation by a genius.

At first read, it may seem like the most basic piece of poetry, but if you give it thought there’s a number of messages it conveys. I won’t steal the magic of the poem by telling you my interpretations of it, but I’d love to hear yours first — so do tell me what you think!

She tried it on and smiled. A comfort to see the familiar again.

These five tiny gems were hidden in a pile of other stuff in the mine of words that I visited today. I hope you can get a chance to appreciate them as much as I did.

Here’s one of my own old poems, if you’re feeling like reading another — because poetry always leaves me craving for more.