The journey of becoming a poet is often misunderstood. Many believe that poetry belongs exclusively to those blessed with an extraordinary command of language, individuals who can effortlessly craft metaphors and similes that leave readers breathless. This understanding, however, misses the true essence of what it means to be a poet. At its core, being a poet isn’t about possessing elite capabilities with words, but rather about having the courage to use words to express something meaningful without fear. It’s about recognising that poetry emerges not from linguistic perfection, but from authentic expression.

When we strip away the mystique surrounding poetry, we discover that being a poet is fundamentally about determination, a commitment to use language as art to form impressions, evoke feelings, articulate strong views, and capture moments of deep reflection. This determination isn’t dependent on formal education or literary acclaim. Instead, it’s rooted in the persistent desire to transform ordinary language into something that resonates, challenges, and illuminates. The poet doesn’t merely communicate; they craft experiences through carefully chosen words, rhythms, and silences.

True poetic expression exists beyond the confines of external expectations. Being a poet means embracing the freedom to use words that you want to use, guided not by conventions or critics, but by your own desire to be reflective and forge something new. This doesn’t mean disregarding the rich traditions of poetry throughout history; rather, it means engaging with these traditions on your own terms, allowing them to inform your work without dictating it. The poet listens to their internal compass, following where it leads even when the destination is uncertain.

The practice of poetry encompasses a spectrum of intentions. For some, being a poet is a deeply private and inward form of word art, a personal dialogue between the self and language that requires no audience. For others, poetry serves as a vehicle for expressiveness to others, a bridge connecting individual experience to collective understanding. Many poets oscillate between these poles, sometimes writing for themselves alone, sometimes for a broader community. Neither approach is superior; both are valid expressions of poetic identity.

At its most liberating, being a poet is about experimentation and risk in using language. It’s about not giving a damn about what others may say but just saying it anyway. This doesn’t mean being deliberately obscure or provocative for its own sake but rather having the courage to follow your intuition even when it leads to unconventional forms, unexpected juxtapositions, or uncomfortable truths. The poet understands that growth often emerges from taking risks, from venturing beyond familiar territories into uncharted linguistic landscapes.

Perhaps most profoundly, being a poet offers a channel for personal transformation. As words connect with feeling and being, they have the power to reshape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Through the act of writing poetry, we discover aspects of our experience that had previously remained inarticulate or unacknowledged. We find patterns in seemingly disparate memories, emotions, and observations. We cultivate a heightened attentiveness to the textures of everyday life. In this way, poetry becomes not just something we create, but something that creates us in return.

Embracing your identity as a poet means recognising that poetry isn’t merely a literary genre or art-form, it’s a way of engaging with existence. It’s seeing the extraordinary within the ordinary, finding music in everyday speech, and discerning connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena. Whether your poems reach thousands or remain private reflections, whether they adhere to traditional forms or invent new ones, your voice matters. The world needs the unique perspective that only you can provide, expressed in words that only you can arrange in precisely that way.

 

24/3/2025