by

Sylence Campbell

lunabellah.gmail.com

The very thought of sharing one's poetry can generate a wide array of feelings from fear to fierce aversion. The thought of putting oneself on display for the written world is both horrifying and simply too intimate. I had this debate with a fellow writer who views poetry this way: publicly displaying himself in such and emotionally intimate manner is just too invasive. While this fellow author writes some of the most amazing poetry and enjoys reading the work of others, he cannot see poetry as an art form.

On the flip side of this is the argument that poetry is the bravest or boldest art form for pretty much the same reasons. A poet is willing to acknowledge the most intimate thoughts and feelings by writing them and sharing them through publishing, poetry contests and posting to various Web sites. Maybe part of the thrill is the exposure. Maybe there is truth in both sides of the coin? Who really can say what art truly is?

If we take the literal definition of the word:

1. Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
2.

• The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
• The study of these activities.
• The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group.

3. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value.

4. A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.

It is easy to see that the definition is not quite so specific. Have you been to a museum of modern art? Then surely you have seen some of the objects that are being displayed and sold as art. I am very certain each one of us could enter out bathrooms and create a sculpture made entirely of band-aids and q-tips and with 2 coats of red spray paint and a jazzy name, it could be passed off as art to the right audience. You know the saying "one mans junk is another mans treasure"

So what is art to you? Word play at its best perhaps? Yes, I stand by my convictions that poetry is a rate and beautiful form of art. It opens a window into the heart and soul of the poet and allows the reader to relate to it in their lives. The writing of poetry is an art form that brings poets together. Poetry is not as popular as it was in ages long past and it is up to today's poets to help each other.

Support your local poets. Request readings and book signings by poets at your local bookshops. One day it could be you reading your own work and signing your own books.

Sylence Campbell.
Author of "The Sounds of Sylence"
Crystal Dreams Publications

The poet loves disorder, spreading wild things.... www.arishan.com/poetry/main.html