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Today, Fable and the Verbivore are talking about Poetry - both what it is and how it can be used to help to find our voice.

We start by using a general definition of poetry and what characteristics it typically has. Poetry comes from a Greek word that means “to make, to create”. It often includes - but does not require - these three elements:

- Emphasis on language's musical qualities

- Condensed or boiled down language

- Intense feelings or exploration of what it means to be human

The form of poetry is often important. There could be a rhyming structure, lyrical rhythm, or a visual structure. Using Billy Collins “Elk River Falls” and Barbara Kingsolver’s “How to Do Absolutely Nothing” as examples, we talk about how the shape of the poem can help add meaning.

Towards the second part of this conversation, we talk about using poetry to help connect with our voice and identify the words that feel authentically ours. One of the main points we touch on is how adding a constraint to a writing piece can help overcome “decision paralysis” and spark creativity through funneling down the options and narrowing the scope of the project.

As we end, we talk about listening to performance of poetry by the author. How connecting with a poets actual voice can help add layers of understanding to their words.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore