Reasoning of Poetry

Poetry is a creative outlet which at times can have little or no clear reason behind its existence. However, most poems are written for some reason or purpose. These reasons can be varied however the most commons three reasons will be focused on within this paper. Poetry can be written solely for purposes of providing entertainment. These kinds of poems are written to delight or amuse their audience. Poems can be also be written to inform their audience. These kinds of poems make a statement or provide insight regarding the human condition. Poems can also be written to move their audiences. These kinds of poems evoke a strong emotion through relating in some way to the human condition, as perfected so eloquently in the work of Rhys. Three poems and the reasons behind the poems will be analyzed to illustrate the purpose of poetry.

Elizabeth Barrett’s “How do I Love Thee” has one of the most memorable and popular openings of any poem. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” (Barrett 1). While many individuals may not know the rest of the poem, they are familiar with the opening line. This poem's main purpose is to evoke the strong emotion of love in their audience. Barrett utilizes religious imagery throughout her poem to emphasize the depth and devotion she has for her lover. “Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death” (Barret 13-14). The use of alliteration and frequent repetition throughout the poem serves to reinforce the love that is expressed throughout the poem. The direct purpose of the poem can be seen as Barrett’s way of expressing her love. However, the poem’s purpose could also be to provide words and images in an effort to define the strong emotion of love.

Ben Johnson’s poem “On My First Son” is also about love although it is a different kind of love. The poem is about a parent’s love for a child. This poem depicts the loss that is felt by a man who loses his son. “Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy ; /My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy. /Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay, /Exacted by thy fate, on the just day” (Johnson, 1-4). The purpose of this poem would be to inform of the human condition. In this case to make a comment on what a parent experiences when they lose a child. As these feelings of grief are universal the poem still resonates even though it was written hundreds of years ago. The poem also evokes religious imagery in that it appears Johnson is speaking to God when he is lamenting the loss of his son as he suggests that his son was lent to him by God. “For whose sake, hence-forth, all his vowes be such,/ As what he loves may never like too much” (Johnson, 11-12). Johnson speaks to the nature of love in general as he states in these lines that he would not want to feel this pain again. While it does not matter who we lose the grief that humans feel is so great it becomes all encompassing. The brevity of the poem in that it is only one stanza highlights how Johnson is so encompassed in his grief that he cannot think about anything else. Despite when it was written any parent in any decade who has lost a child can relate to Johnson’s misery and grief. 

Andrew Marvell’s poem “To His Coy Mistress” is one which has a lighter purpose however it could also be seen as being about love. Although the love in this case is superficial and has not been consummated. The poem is about a man trying to convince a woman to become his mistress. The poem is considered a carpe diem theme in that it urges individuals to seize the day. The poet is trying to convince a woman to seize the day as their time to have an affair is now. “Had we but World enough, and Time, / This coyness Lady were no crime.” (Marvell, 1-2). The purpose of the poem is to delight readers and is it discusses something as sensationalizing as an affair. The poet’s use of various metaphors throughout the poem serve to not only convince the woman to engage in the affair but also to convince the audience of how much he wants her. The urgency through which time is personified is also a tool that the poet uses in order to draw the audience into the illicit affair that might occur. “Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie” (Marvell, 22-23). This also provides us with interesting images of time actually coming after the couple. The poem also presents as a cliffhanger leaving the audience wondering whether she took his proposal on or if she refused his considerable advances. The persistence of the author is interesting and can provide the audience with considerable entertainment.

Although these three poems are significantly different, they all are written about love and they all share the fact that they have a purpose behind the poetry. At times poems can have a different purpose than was intended by the poet. Over time the meaning of poetry can change. However, this selection of poetry has withstood time to still resonate with audiences and to maintain their meaning. Although the language has changed the literary techniques utilized in these poems have stood the test of time as well. Poetry can have multiple purposes however the main purpose of poetry should be to resonate with their audience.

Work Cited

Booth, Allison, and Kelly Mays. "The Norton Introduction to Literature (Tenth Edition)."  W.W. Norton and Company, March 5, 2010.