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Poetry is an art form. It is created and crafted by poets--artists who are craftspeople. You and me. Like any artist, we need tools to create our works. But, I can't hand you a box of words and expect that a poem will result. Not a very good one, at any rate.
I can, however, hand you some tools, explain their use and function, then expect that you'll be able to use them properly. Whether you do or not is up to you, of course.
One of the most useful and important tools that a poet can have is an understanding of symbols. Universal Symbols as I like to see them, because they transcend race and language, creed or color, and other restrictive applications.
You see what you are writing.
You hear what you are writing.
You smell what you are writing.
You touch what you are writing.
You taste what you are writing.
You become emotionally involved with what you are writing.
Recognizing those few realities allows you to know that if those things are happening to you, they will also be happening to anyone who reads your writing.
If you want your reader to see colors, like the blazing, bright, golden-yellow sun, describe them.
If you want your reader to hear the echos of pounding surf, crashing on the jutting rocks, describe that.
If you want your reader to smell the putrid odor of a rotten garbage heap, describe that.
If you want your reader to feel the soft, smooth, touch of a gentle finger sliding across the satin skin of neck and shoulder, tell it that way.
If you want your reader to feel the mouth pucker at the acrid taste of bitter lemon, tell it so.
If you want your reader to know the silent sadness of a gripping hand around your heart, because your loved one died, tell them that.
Those descriptions, those symbols, are universal. They carry the same meaning and intensity to almost everyone. Almost, because there will always be exceptions. The vast majority will interpret your writing as you want them to.
But you must apply your tools of words.
Choose your words carefully, even their placement, and your own reaction to what you've written. Choose words that will describe the vision in your mind's eye. Just as a studio artist chooses colors from a palette of paint, you choose colors from your palette of words. Choose the words that have the feeling for what you're saying and you'll be using Universal Symbols.
A short article, like this one, can't possibly hope to give a list of evocative and descriptive words. There are just too many. Which is a good thing for you, and me as well, because now our tool box will become more and more filled.
I'm going to try to do another article that will give a listing of some symbolic words that are even more Universal than the thoughts above.
I hope this was helpful. ^^
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