Poet of the Month--Connie Marcum Wong

The Gift of Poetry

By Connie Marcum Wong

A poet enters a private sanctuary,
A sacred place where the imagination
Dwells with a mélange of emotions
Conceived by aesthetic beauty
Often divine and esoteric in nature;
That comprehensive longing to
Express through common language
That which is so vitally uncommon.
Words that seek to form a bridge
Between intellectual abstract thought
And the world of the inarticulate.

A way to express the depth of sorrow
While having it become a cathartic
Release, thereby relating to others
In commiseration and heartfelt empathy.
Poetry has the ability to help, to heal.
To reach souls enduring that same pain
May be a blessed gift poetry genuinely
Offers in a nonintrusive manner, helping
Lonely souls know they are not alone.

No-one escapes the loving light poetry sheds.
It dwells inside each of us, realized or not.
It teaches with simplicity, expands the mind,
Ingratiates itself without any effort when
Expressed with forethought and integrity.
It may stir emotions from the most stoic.
Speech itself, lives and breathes, and is poetic.

Words may elevate our spirit with such intensity
To a generate a feeling akin to euphoric bliss.
Poets, honored in past glory with the status of Kings,
Now dwell in a world often misunderstood by the
Masses too busy to take the time to regard its worth.
How fortunate for the insightful that appreciate and
Embrace the ageless, immortal soul poetry provides.
They are blessed and will give birth to future poets.
_______________

From the editor--It is a pleasure to announce that Connie Marcum Wong is August’s Poet of the Month.  She is a talented published writer and the web mistress of a private poetry forum called Poetry for Thought.  She has promoted Whispers at her forum, helping us grow our online journal. Readers at Whispers enjoy her creative poetry.  Connie is an uplifting voice at our online journal, regularly leaving thoughtful comments which others appreciate.  She has shared her talent by participating in some of our community activities. It is a pleasure to honor Connie this month!
_______________

Thoughts on “The Gift of Poetry ”--The opening line captured my attention right away as I do believe that poetry is a gift that wells up from a special place within us.  Connie’s poem is rich in imagery, a true artistic experience.  She presents us with an insightful view of the writing experience.  The last line extends this experience beyond the individual’s sphere into the future. It is a gift to share Connie’s words with you!
_______________

Congratulations and thank you Connie!  I appreciate all you do and have done for Whispers.

Sincerely,

Karen O’Leary, Editor