Expressing an Emotion – The Art of Writing Poetry
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression and finding meaning in few words. A melody of passion flowing out onto the pages, words that flow into each other and yet express the inner most thoughts and feelings of those who read the words. Writing poetry is a gift, a wonderful gift, being able to illuminate words so that they form a picture, express a feeling and share a thought in so few words. Unlike telling a story or writing a novel that explains every intricate detail a poem leaves you to draw your own conclusion. Writing poetry can be a healing process, putting down on paper all the emotions locked up inside ones head, a way of remembering and a way of re-living. Poetry has many forms from free verse to sonnet but all poems tell a story, a story of words, words wrapped around each other in such away that they flow together, locked in meaning. The poem “Playing” is one of my favourites and every time I read this poem, I cannot help but smile. See if you smile.
Playing
Running gently
Screams of laughter
Looking back
I see you smile
Golden hair
Such bright blue eyes
Once a baby
In my arms
Laughing harder
Running around
Two years old
I feel so proud
Golden hair
And eyes so blue
You call “Mummy Mummy”
Come play too
Copyright © Amanda Evans
Poetry can also portray emotions of hurt and betrayal, unrequited love, loss and great suffering. Just putting these feelings onto paper helps to unburden the mind and the heart. Offloading the grief one feels, if only for a moment. The next two poems titled “Dreams” and “Suicide” display emotions of loss and sorrow. They are a complete contrast to the above poem “Playing” filled with laughter and happiness.
Dreams
Crystal moons
And dancing stars
Images of place
So near yet so far
Staring for hours
As the night passes by
My life at a standstill
I painfully cry
No grand illusions
No place to go
Destined to stay here
This I now know
Lost are the dreams
You and me side by side
Gone now forever
With you they died
Copyright © Amanda Evans
Suicide
The power to suppress
The pain and the loss
The tears and the sadness
The grief inside
Lying there
Dormant
Sleep please, oh sleep
The memories suppressed
No power to deal
With the pain that you caused
The gap no one can fill
Your selfish act
Leaves me broken
Afraid to love
Afraid to live
Through suppression I survive
Suicide not only killed you
Copyright © Amanda Evans
Many of the worlds great poets wrote about loss and pain, Shakespeare’s Sonnets spoke of love “Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s Day” and Emily Dickinson’s poetry was about death “Because I could not stop for death, He kindly stopped for me”, all contained great emotions and sadness that could be felt by the reader. Having the ability to express your feelings through poetry is an exceptional gift and a gift that you should embrace and nurture. The internet provides a vast amount of poetry sites where you can submit your poetry for critique and review. You can join workshops and receive expert help and advice or even help others. There are also numerous courses available via distance learning that you can take. Learning as much as you can about the art of poetry, will greatly increase your chances of becoming a recognised poet.
Expressing emotions through the art of poetry can be very daunting. Poems will always be clear to the author it is only when the reader understands the meaning that it can truly be called a poem.
Amanda Evans is the author of the newly published “From Those Death Left Behind” a collection of poetry and stories describing the grief and emotions of a family that lost a member to suicide. This book can be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/content/120733 or from Amazon.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
From Those Death Left Behind - Another Review
From Those Death Left Behind - Review by Ben Everson
This book is an incredibly moving story of a daughter and a mother confronted with the suicide of the father of the family. A description of the events leading up to the suicide provide an insight into the experience of these two women. The suicide ultimately left them both with a deep feeling of emptiness. By writing poetry, they attempt to express there emotions and move on. An important book for everyone to read to spread awareness of suicide.
Ben Everson wrote Stream of Consciousness in his senior year at the University of Michigan. The novel is a fantastical story about a journey to an alien planet and back again. Ben is now a law student at Emory University, and maintains a strong interest in writing.
If you would like to purchase a copy of From Those Death Left Behind please visit www.lulu.com/content/120733
If you would like to review my book please contact me amandaevans@eircom.net
This book is an incredibly moving story of a daughter and a mother confronted with the suicide of the father of the family. A description of the events leading up to the suicide provide an insight into the experience of these two women. The suicide ultimately left them both with a deep feeling of emptiness. By writing poetry, they attempt to express there emotions and move on. An important book for everyone to read to spread awareness of suicide.
Ben Everson wrote Stream of Consciousness in his senior year at the University of Michigan. The novel is a fantastical story about a journey to an alien planet and back again. Ben is now a law student at Emory University, and maintains a strong interest in writing.
If you would like to purchase a copy of From Those Death Left Behind please visit www.lulu.com/content/120733
If you would like to review my book please contact me amandaevans@eircom.net
From Those Death Left Behind - Reviewed
From Those Death Left Behind Reviewed by Sarah Lingley
He gave her a goodnight kiss and told her he loved her—something he hadn’t done since she was a child—then left her watching a movie in the sitting room. It was Monday evening, October 29th, 1990. He was Amanda Evan’s father and in his bedroom, with a gun, he took his life from himself, his wife and children, his friends. He was thirty-seven years old.
In an effort to find their own answers, and in hopes of gaining the strength to let go, Amanda, along with her sister Christine and their mother Yvonne, openly share their confusion, heartache, utter anger and frustration in this poignantly honest and vividly real collaboration of literature to the man they loved—and lost to an untimely death. From Those Death Left Behind is a heartfelt tribute that helped them heal and that will hopefully assist others in finding rejuvenating joy after devastating sadness.
From Those Death Left Behind is a fairly short, quick read but one that will grip you as strongly as if it were a multiple-plot suspense novel. The poems and essays beckon slow, meditative reading and the words and phrases chosen to describe the authors’ feeling portray very strongly just how difficult letting go can be, how challenging forcing ourselves to move on truly is. Even to readers who haven’t experienced a suicide case in quite the same way as Amanda and her family, the shock of sudden death and the questions of why or how will most definitely hit home with anyone who has recently come face to face with unexpectedly waving farewell to a cherished individual.
Readers of appropriate age will find comfort in tracing the emotional ups and downs of the book and rest, ultimately, in the fact that letting go of the pain and grief and learning to return once again to life is how we can move beyond mere existence and productively press forward. From Those Death Left Behind is divided into four sections: 1) a message from Amanda, 2) a message from Christine, 3) a message from Yvonne and 4) medically proven statistics related to the causes, methods and possible preventative measures of suicide. A substantial list of web site addresses for those seeking support, counsel, or advice related to suicide is also included.
Reviewed by Sarah E. Lingley, www.themovingpen.com
He gave her a goodnight kiss and told her he loved her—something he hadn’t done since she was a child—then left her watching a movie in the sitting room. It was Monday evening, October 29th, 1990. He was Amanda Evan’s father and in his bedroom, with a gun, he took his life from himself, his wife and children, his friends. He was thirty-seven years old.
In an effort to find their own answers, and in hopes of gaining the strength to let go, Amanda, along with her sister Christine and their mother Yvonne, openly share their confusion, heartache, utter anger and frustration in this poignantly honest and vividly real collaboration of literature to the man they loved—and lost to an untimely death. From Those Death Left Behind is a heartfelt tribute that helped them heal and that will hopefully assist others in finding rejuvenating joy after devastating sadness.
From Those Death Left Behind is a fairly short, quick read but one that will grip you as strongly as if it were a multiple-plot suspense novel. The poems and essays beckon slow, meditative reading and the words and phrases chosen to describe the authors’ feeling portray very strongly just how difficult letting go can be, how challenging forcing ourselves to move on truly is. Even to readers who haven’t experienced a suicide case in quite the same way as Amanda and her family, the shock of sudden death and the questions of why or how will most definitely hit home with anyone who has recently come face to face with unexpectedly waving farewell to a cherished individual.
Readers of appropriate age will find comfort in tracing the emotional ups and downs of the book and rest, ultimately, in the fact that letting go of the pain and grief and learning to return once again to life is how we can move beyond mere existence and productively press forward. From Those Death Left Behind is divided into four sections: 1) a message from Amanda, 2) a message from Christine, 3) a message from Yvonne and 4) medically proven statistics related to the causes, methods and possible preventative measures of suicide. A substantial list of web site addresses for those seeking support, counsel, or advice related to suicide is also included.
Reviewed by Sarah E. Lingley, www.themovingpen.com
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