Summary
Poetry is a unique form of art that helps to reflect deep feelings using words. By combining sounds, an author can create a text that sounds unique and memorable. The emotional effect of poetry is linked to aesthetic pleasure, meaning that poems appeal to the ideas of beauty (Wassiliwizky et al., 2017). At the same time, many poems can later become songs, which increases the power of effect caused by them and their ability to create specific reactions among people (Jacobus & Marin, 2019). For this reason, thousands of poets tried to embody their feelings and emotions and create a masterpiece reflecting their inner world and substantially impacting the audience. At the same time, poems can inspire others and make them create their artwork. It guarantees that poetry will live and acquire new forms.
The strong impact of the past masterpieces can be evidenced using specific examples. For instance, William Blake’s poem “Spring” is one of the outstanding works of a talented poet:
Spring
Sound the flute!
Now it’s mute!
Birds delight,
Day and night,
Nightingale,
In the dale,
Lark in sky, –
Merrily,
Merrily, merrily to welcome in the year.
Little boy,
Full of joy;
Little girl,
Sweet and small;
Cock does crow,
So do you;
Merry voice,
Infant noise;
Merrily, merrily to welcome in the year.
Little lamb,
Here I am;
Come and lick
My white neck;
Let me pull
Your soft wool;
Let me kiss
Your soft face;
Merrily, merrily we welcome in the year (Blake, 1789)
It was first published in 1789 and was supported by the original illustration made by the author. Blake view spring as the start of a new life, a new beginning, and a time of renewal. He outlines the harmony between nature and human beings and appreciates the innocence found in childhood and spring (Blake, 1789). The poet speaks about “little Boy / Full of joy” and “little lamb,” comparing their innocence, beauty, and admiring the new beginning (Blake, 1789, lines 10-11; line 19). At the same time, Blake admires the change that happens in the world and its beauty.
Reading this poem, I was inspired by the rhymes, rhythm, size, and some of the themes touched upon by Blake. Trying to present the feelings that emerged after analyzing the masterpiece, I created my work:
Winter
Find warm clothes!
Now it’s cold.
Air is frozen,
Trees are bald.
Days are shorter,
Nights are long.
Drinks are hotter,
Winds sing songs.
Many people,
Just stay home.
Answer’s simple-
Winter has come.
But no worries!
Forget dull moods!
Time of miracles
Comes to hoods!
Happily, with joy,
We welcome New Year,
Time of new hopes,
So, let’s forget fear!
Similar to Blake’s work, this poem also admires the beauty of nature. I outline the changes in nature as days become shorter and colder, and many people might not like it. However, I also view winter as a new beginning as a new year starts. It means we acquire new chances to change our lives for the better and enjoy the miracles of the winter holidays.
I think the two pieces are devoted to similar themes. Blake speaks about spring as the symbol of innocence and new beginnings. He is happy because of the spring and harmony between people and the world surrounding them. Using the same medium as it helps to speak about deep feelings, I also speak about nature and its beauty. I was also inspired by the size and tried to use short, sharp sentences to express feelings and emotions. However, there are also some differences as Blake speaks about spring, while my poem is devoted to winter. The emotions are also different as the first poem is full of joy and expectations of a new beginning, while the second one sounds calmer and more neutral. However, both poems make readers think about nature, seasons, and what they mean to everyone.
In conclusion, speaking about two poems, it is possible to see how Blake’s work preserves its ability to inspire people. Although it was created many years ago, it remains topical as the poet touches upon the universal themes that are topical for people today. For this reason, poetry triggers strong reactions in individuals and inspires them to create and express their own emotions in various ways. It is a unique feature of art, making it one of the fundamental aspects of human society.
References
Blake, W. (1789). Spring. TweetSpeakPoetry. Web.
Jacobus, L., & Marin, D. (2019). The humanities through the arts (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Wassiliwizky, E., Koelsch, S., Wagner, V., Jacobsen, T., & Menninghaus, W. (2017). The emotional power of poetry: Neural circuitry, psychophysiology and compositional principles. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 12(8), 1229–1240. Web.