It is said that poetry is the oldest form of art. It allows us to deal with feelings we are unable to understand. For a reader, poetry opens the door to looking closer into the soul of the poet. Not only this, but it can also help us express ourselves in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Let’s talk about some reasons you should make a habit of reading poetry.
- Expand Your Vocabulary
Are you tired of using the same boring words to express a feeling or action while writing? You are not alone. Many creative individuals share the same struggle with you.
While you cannot memorize the entire thesaurus, engaging in activities you enjoy, such as reading best love poems, can help you expand your vocabulary and enhance your verbal skills.
Beauty and readability are often the most notable factors of a good poem. Every beautiful poem owes a significant part of its success to the words used. In addition to providing you with a beautiful reading experience, these words also enrich your speech.
Most readers like to stop to look for the meaning of the words that caught their attention. Over time, this practice can help readers by expanding their vocabulary.
- Enhance Language Play
Did you know that Shakespeare created about 2,000 new words during his writing career? Many of these words are still being used in everyday English. Poetry opens up possibilities for language play, and you can have so much fun with this possibility.
You do not have to be a professor of literature to be able to make linguistic discoveries. Reading and writing poetry opens several doors of opportunities for creative minds. The freedom provided by poetry for language play may not be found in any other genre of literature.
- Improve Critical Thinking
Prose is a straightforward form of writing that follows the natural flow of language. However, things are not as simple when reading poetry. Poetry often has hidden meanings for readers to discover. Bringing out the meaning of a brilliant poem is up to the reader.
As you try to read between the lines of a poem and decipher the meaning of what the poet has written, your critical thinking will eventually improve. This skill will benefit not only you when you are reading poetry but also in several other endeavors of life.
By developing a habit of self-reflection, critical thinkers become more self-aware, acknowledging their own biases and limitations. They also learn to weigh all the pros and cons in given circumstances to make the best decisions in any given situation.
- Hear the Symphonies
Every language has music, and the best way to hear it is to read poetry. Every different reader of the same poem will make you hear a different symphony. For example, several fans of Sylvia Plath love her poetry in her unique voice and find it very comforting.
Plath’s voice conveys the raw emotional depth of her work, bringing out the subtleties of her feelings and thoughts. She offers a direct and intimate connection to her own experience and perspective, intensifying the emotional impact of her poems.
Sometimes, the symphonies of poems can even overpower the words. These symphonies can also be a great reason for readers to become interested in a specific poem in the first place.
- Improve Your Memory
If you did not know that poetry improves your memory, today is your lucky day to learn. Throughout history, poetry has been considered a reliable medium for remembering and relaying information. Today, its effects are no different.
Being lyrical, melodic, and structured with predictable stressed syllables, poems are easy for many people to remember. Some studies even suggest that people with dementia show improved mood, concentration, and social interaction after reading and listening to poetry.
- Feel Comforted
Avid poetry readers say that poetry is nothing less than a warm cup of tea for their souls. They will be comforted after reading a poem they love. You can read a few love poems on your own to find out how poems spread their magic.
Whether you are frustrated or feeling blue, reading a few good poems can make anyone feel relaxed. You can also consider writing poetry to express feelings that you may have been suppressing inside. Just grab a pen and a piece of paper and let it all out.
- Overcome Boundaries
Another great reason for you to read poetry is to overcome any boundaries. Whether you want to go back to the Victorian era and meet Oscar Wilde or see Ezra Pound’s masterpieces in the modern era, poetry can take you wherever you want without worrying about boundaries.
In addition to transcending time, you can also surpass the limitations of place with a brilliant poem. You can always explore the works of poets from around the world and learn more about this diverse world as you read another poem.
For example, you may never be able to see what life was like in the Medieval Era. However, reading the masterpieces of Geoffrey Chaucer can give you a chance to understand how people lived, what the norms were, and so much more.
- Promote Personal Growth
You are never too old or too learned for more growth. Personal growth is the most significant type of growth. While you may think that lifestyle changes such as being more persistent and resilient are key to success, the secret also lies in simple day-to-day activities, such as reading poetry.
Poetry is a larger form of art and expression than you may think. Reading a few verses every day can broaden your horizons and help you learn more about the world, one step at a time. Think of poetry as a portal to wherever in the world you want to go and start your journey.
In addition to teaching you more about the world, poetry also fosters creativity in the reader’s mind. This way, poetry also opens doors to self-reflection and learning techniques that work the best for you.