What Poetry Is

When letters wait to pounce on a blank page, when thoughts crowd the mind like frothing scum in a pond I keep wondering what poetry is to me and to many Is it not the language of the heart with no intervention of gray matter the unlocking of closed vaults stirring the embers of love, hurt or pain or giving a free rein to fancy and flying on magic carpets to lands forlorn Sometimes it is a glide into a sea of tranquillity an escape from the humdrum of the world a flash of liberation from assaults of pain a sedative to numb the turmoil a sanctuary for a burdened heart a window to look at the world through a companion when one is inconsolably alone a candle flame in a darkening world a cloth line to hang the dirty laundry a water lily blooming in the pool of tears a shelter in homelessness sometimes it is a ladder to climb up to Heavens an angel on wings with tidings of hope peace in a world braced for war Poetry, if you are all these let us fall at your feet bless us in our art, may we splurge in fancy and conjure up worlds from words! Our poems may not be light houses but could be fireflies on a starless night! Submitted for Brian Strand Premiere Choice Poetry Contest July. 25. 2022 Submitted for Marathon Mile, No.14. Poetry Contest Sponsored by Mark Toney ~ Placed First~ Poem on Poetry Muse Poetry Contest Sponsor – Beta Agustin