The experience of poetry
Poetry and art offer a unique perspective on the world, reflecting our intuition, introspection, and personal understanding of events. (Photo: Benoît Theunissen)
In this reflective writing, I explore the nature of poetry, going far beyond its mere literary construction. For me, poetry acts as a bridge between the tangible and the intangible, an artistic creation that is greater than the sum of its parts. It embodies artistic expression in all its forms, serving as a conduit for emotions and sensations that transcend simple words, leading to a more intuitive and universal understanding of ourselves and the world.
Beyond words
Poetry is an art form. Art, in essence, is poetry. Does this complete the circle? Many might argue that poetry is primarily a literary exercise, rooted in the labor of the pen, the structure of words, and their rhymes. Seen this way, poetry remains just a string of words. Arranged together, they might have meaning, a unique sound, and style. Yet, they are still just clusters of letters, syllables, and sounds.
The immaterial touch
To transform these elements into poetry, they need something more—a touch of the intangible. Is it a bit of magic? The question remains open… However, this invisible quality that cloaks words on paper can project them into a different realm, not necessarily always a dreamy one. Without aiming to travel so far, the poet’s touch starts by creating a subtle but deep connection between the poem and the reader's emotions.
The power of intuition
This link reconnects the reader with himself and the world around him. His intuition awakens. He no longer just reads or listens; he feels. He experiences the poet’s channels deep within and, in turn, channels these feelings. Through physical sensations—warmth, cold, pressure, tingles, vibrations—he transforms the words or sounds into a new dimension. He doesn’t just echo the words; he enriches and reshapes them through his unique perspective.
The poet as a conduit
Aware of this process, he understands the poet’s role as an intuitive receptor, sharing the cosmos’ secrets with others. As he lifts his eyes from the words and sounds, he looks toward the horizon beyond the window. The dusk has just ended, giving way to the soft blue light before nightfall. Warm hues, blending deep orange and light yellow, merge with cooler tones—first violet, then a vivid blue.
Merging senses with the cosmos
Caught up in the emotions stirred by the poem, he forgets its words, transfixed by the colors that envelop him. The words disappear; the verb loses its meaning. The landscape merges with the sky at the horizon’s vanishing point. This is when the cosmos reveals its mysteries, just before the night’s blackness takes over. It’s a moment suspended outside space and time, a pure continuum of consciousness.
The living poetry
In that brief instant, connected to the vanishing point, he loses himself, letting go of all mental distractions. Poetry is alive, a vibrant expression of the cosmos, the source of all things. What he lives, feels, and experiences is the ineffable. This deep sensation, reminiscent of what he felt before a great painting days earlier, confirms that art is poetry, and poetry is art. Both are intricately linked, each enhancing the other, leading to a deeper understanding of himself and the universe.
No more words are needed. No more languages. No more ideas. Just silence. Poetry in its purest form.