Five Human Experiences that We Use Poems to Express

When hearing the word “human”, what thought springs to mind? Indeed, most of us instantly think of errors and mistakes that humans make so easily. Being human, however, is more about the experiences that bind us together than the follies that separate us. Poems have the remarkable ability to present these complex experiences to the world. The result of sharing this humanness with others is a feeling of connectedness, belonging, and empathy.

Human experiences incorporate several ideas, feelings, and actions. The way in which we participate in life needs to be communicated with authenticity, if we wish to have meaningful relationships. So, how does one go about bridging our inner world with the worlds of those around us? The answer is poetry. There are five prominent kinds of human experiences that poems convey through the written word, and below we discuss them further.

1. Love

Everyone from the ancient Greek philosophers to modern pop artists seems to understand the powerful, universal power of love. Love is, possibly, also the most written about theme in poetry. In one form or another, all people of all races, religions, and cultures have understood what it means to love someone.

2. Loss

Losing someone or something you care about is as close to the height of human anguish as one can get. Nobody can put a limit on your grieving process or tell you how to heal. There is no “normal” way to react to the abnormal barrage of emotions we face while in despair. Poems about grief are compelling because they shake their fists in the air at the notion of something we must all endure – loss.

3. Anger

Rage, fury, and wrath – none of these emotions are harmful or wrong, but how we react to them can be. To avoid lashing out at life with unhealthy coping mechanisms, finding a way to release pent up anger is crucial. One of the most productive ways to deal with reaching your boiling point is through poetry. Reading and writing poems help us to explore the feeling of injustice in the world.

4. Fear

Almost always presenting itself as a form of dread for the future, fear has a way of paralysing people into passivity. There is hope, however, as the best way to deal with being afraid is to do something – anything. Taking action in the face of what you fear most is the easiest way to conquer feelings of helplessness and surrender. One such action is to write about what you are going through. You may be surprised to find that others are navigating those same emotions too.

5. Hope

If love is the currency of the heart, then hope is the banker. Hope is that ever-optimistic expectation that something positive will come of it all and that good tidings are just over the hill. Living in hope means to actively move against indifference, doubt, and disbelief in ourselves. Hope tells us that there still is some magic and beauty to be discovered in our universe – and this is what makes poems about hope so powerful.

Regardless of your “human” condition right now, poetry is a powerful method of baring your true voice. Your experiences are important and sharing them could help others understand that theirs are important too.