DIFFERENCE OF POETRY FROM PROSE AND OTHER LITERATURE

Poetry differs from other literature despite the fact that the same language is used and the same world, described.

First and foremost, poems are short compared to short story, play or Novel.

Note that, the length and density should not be confused. Poets have to convey ideas in lines. This means that even a short poem can convey or contain very profound and complexed idea. For example, Grace Nicholes’ poem, ‘Epilogue’ has one of the most profound and complex subject matter/ideas. It expresses important ideas about separation and a new beginning.

EPILOGUE

          I have crossed an Ocean

          I have lost my tongue

          From the roots of the Old

          One,

          A new one has sprung.

-         Grace Nicholes (Guyana)

Short poems may be difficult to understand; because of the complexity in their message; it’s usually connotative (symbolic with a hidden message) compared to quite long poems with surface massage. You ask yourself the first time you see a poem like ‘Epilogue’,

          What does this poem mean?

          Who is the poet talking about?

          Which Ocean has she crossed?

          Does the poet mean this literally or does

          “Crossing an Ocean” mean something as well?

          Who has she been separated from?

Poetry also differs from other genres of literature in that, it’s written in lines and stanzas instead of sentences and paragraph that prose presents its massage in. this makes the message passed by poetry rhythmic and more powerfully put forward than that put across by other genres of literature. For example, William Shakespeare’s sonnet ‘Shakespeare On Love’ and any other poets’ poems are more beautiful and powerful in their verse form than in their prose form.

Verse form:

SHAKESPEARE ON LOVE:

          Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed^a,

          The dear repose for limbs with travels tired^b;

          But then begins a journey in my head^a

          To work my mind, when body’s work’s expired^b;

          For then my thoughts, from far where I abide^c,

          Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee^d.

          And keep my drooping eyelids open wide^c,

          Looking on darkness which the blind do see:^d

          Save that my soul’s imaginary sight^e _

          Presents thy shadow to my sightless view^f,

          Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,^e

          Makes black night beauteous and her old face New^f.

                    Lo, thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind^g

                    For thee and for myself no quiet find.^g

-         William Shakespeare

A PROSE VERSION

          Tired after a long journey (work), I hurry to my

          Bed to rest my body. Instead of sleeping, however, I begin to think of you who are far away,     And my eyes remain open and look on darkness.         I can see nothing with my eyes but in my          imagination, I see you. You are like a precious jewel shining in the dark and making the night       beautiful. While I am away from you I cannot forget you and I can find no peace of mind for either         of us.

          Poetry therefore, is not only able to present its message more strongly and effectively, but also        musically. Look at the ending words in each line of the poem ‘Shakespeare on love, you will find   that, there is a similarity in their sounding, thus making a musical note. This makes poetry more enjoyable than prose.

          Thirdly, poetry economises language. As prose expresses in a commonly accepted form usually          intended to put across meaning in its simplified and most explicit way, poetry suggests its message   than giving it straight forward. This is possible by used of figurative language like imagery.

For example, Alex Laguna in his book had to write pages upon pages to explain the life of Africans in the Apartheid South Africa, so did Peter Abrahams in the Mine Boy. But Claude Mackey         says exactly the same thing in very short poem and yet more strongly and effectively put across.

IF WE MUST DIE

          If we must die, let it not be like dogs

          Hunted and pained down in an inglorious spot

          While round us bark the mad and angry dogs

          Making their mock at our cast lot.

          If we must die Ooh, let us nobly die

          So that as precious blood may not be shade

          In vain, then even the monsters we defy

          Shall be constrained to honour us though dead.

          Ooh Kins men! We must meet the common foe

          Though far outnumbered, let us show as have

          And for their thousands blow dead one death blow

          Even though before us lies the open grave

          Like men will face the murderous cowardly pack.

          Pressed to wall digging but fighting back.

-         Claude Mackey

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