There are a trillion books on how to write poetry — but how few people actually write about why write poetry?
Some of my personal thoughts:
To express a deeper gratitude to reality
Words are often too basic. I like to write essays and make videos and stuff, but to express a deeper, more profound appreciation of reality, it seems poetry is the only viable way.
Poetry digs deeper. Poetry reveals more of your own soul.
When I write poetry, I need to be so insanely happy and grateful towards reality and being alive, that poetry almost comes spontaneously to me. I never force myself to write a poem. The poems almost force themselves upon me when I feel overwhelming joy and happiness.
How I write poems
I usually am walking or at the gym (without listening to music), and some ideas randomly pop into my head. These words feel like little ‘mantras’ or something like that.
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/juggernaut-gif.gif?resize=498%2C216&ssl=1)
For example, today I attempted a new PR in my squat (365 pounds). And in order to hype myself up, I muttered “JUGGERNAUT” (inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s verse on CONTROL where he says, ‘I’m the juggernaut all up in your throat.” I then visualized JUGGERNAUT (marvel character) busting through the walls, and his insane strength. I then tried to channel that into my lift. I kept saying ‘juggernaut’ over and over again in my head.
Then while I’m still hyping myself up, I then started to mutter ‘MONSTER’ to myself, in my head. Why? MONSTER seemed a little easier to pronounce in my head, and I have recently been listening to the ‘Godzilla’ song by Eminem a lot, which Juice World has the “MONSTER” chorus. And I like the idea of me hyping myself up to become a monster before my epic ‘one rep max’ attempts.
The writing of the poem
When I write, I just use IA WRITER on my laptop or iPad or phone, then I start off by jotting words — sometimes rhyming, sometimes not. I follow a certain cadence and rhythm I got in my head, to no particular beat. I just follow some internal rhythm inside myself.
Don’t force yourself to write poetry, but don’t be afraid to write it either.
I have never studied poetry. Consequently, I never felt that I was ‘qualified’ or “allowed” to write poetry. But the biggest hype-man was Cindy, who told me:
Yes, you can write poetry!
I like thinking of poetry with a lower-letter “p” (kind of like how I approach art with a lower-letter ‘a’). Art and poetry are not for the privileged few; it is the most open and democratic art-creation form. And anyone who tries to bully you NOT to write poetry or art is just an insecure petty soul.
POETRY
![Ceiling clouds. New York Public Library. Pentax 645Z](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/08B811E6-6052-469B-9607-EC9D22A2401B-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)