Have you ever had something you were trying to explain to someone, but couldn’t quite come up with the words?  Or maybe, you could find some generic word like sad or happy, but it didn’t quite capture what you were feeling or wanted to express?  Perhaps it’s so hard because we try to fit logic and normal language to a feeling or experience that goes beyond both of those.

What I love about poetry is that it often captures the essence of the important things we feel or want to convey, without being limited to the logic of normal prose.  Instead of just telling you that I’m really sad, I could tell you that I no longer know the difference between my body and its shadow.  Instead of telling you that I’m so happy, I could say that the air has become water, and with each breath, I drink in and become more full.  In both cases, although you can’t explain exactly what it means, and each person will have a slightly different interpretation, doesn’t it still capture something closer to the real meaning?

I’ve always felt that the important things we express are never in the words themselves, but in everything in between the words.  For example, when you comfort a friend or loved one, it’s never about saying the right thing, but more about the feeling behind whatever you’re trying to say.  Even though you may not be able to give them a logical explanation for whatever they’re feeling or struggling with, they can often feel the intention behind what’s being said: “I’m here for you”, “I understand you”, or maybe “It’s ok to feel whatever you’re feeling”.