Why do you enjoy poetry?

In most cases, I think people like poetry for the special use it makes of language. Most poems are shorter than other forms of composition (novels, short stories, plays). This naturally forces the writer to be much more selective/disciplined in his/her choice of words/symbols/images. read more

Poetry is the precise word for the precise thought, and for someone to enjoy reading a delightful poem due to its preciseness is a wonderful situation to be in. Of course, not everyone likes all poetry, but there are always classics you just can't get out of your head. read more

Of course, all too often, the reason people read poetry is because teachers force them to do so, and that is usually done in a manner that minimizes or eliminates the positive effects of reading poetry (or interacting with any art). read more

That's not to say that there are not more local and specific reasons to write poetry--like therapy, or learning to get better at learning how to use language, or to tell someone in a special way that you love them. But for a poet, the question is pretty much the same as asking a why do you eat and breathe. read more