诗歌的定义着重语词、内涵等方面分析诗歌的特点，使读者对诗歌的概念和基本特征有一个宏观认识。
Definition of Poetry
Robert Pinsky once said: “Poetry...is an ancient art or technology: older than the computer, older than print, older than writing and indeed, though some may find this surprising, much older than prose. I presume that the technology of poetry, using the human body as its medium, evolved for specific uses; to hold things in memory, both within and beyond the individual life span; to achieve intensity and sensuous appeal; to express feelings and ideas rapidly and memorably; to share those feelings and ideas with companions, and also with the dead and with those to come after us.”
Poetry is one of the most ancient literary forms. It appeared thousands of years ago in the world as a form of literature. In China, there is Book of Poetry; In Greek, there is Homer Epic. Poetry is one of the earliest literary forms in ancient India, Egypt and Rome. In Britain, the earliest epic is Beowulf written in Anglo-Saxon period. Ever since then, people in all works of life, especially those educated, sensitive men, care about poems. Simple poems even can interest children, because poetry can bring pleasant sensation to them. People regard the poetry as the main thing of individual life. Poetry also has its special value to our spiritual life. It plays a very important role in our life. It cares all kinds of experiences; no matter this experience is happy or unhappy, special or ordinary, noble or humble, realistic or imaginative. In poetry, this kind of experiences, even the unfortunate ones, can become objects for people’s appreciation. Although such experiences cannot bring pleasant sensation in real life, they can enjoy the readers with the form of poetry. Thus, poetry gives us vitality and enjoyment. Just as William Wordsworth once said: "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquility gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind."(from Preface to Lyrical Ballads). Through reading poetry, we may understand more deeply about human’s feelings and furthermore about life itself.
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