Writing poetry and writing about poetry can be very different experiences for each individual. Both are creative exercises, but the act of writing your own poem is more of an emotional experience. Poetry is supposed to be profound and is reflective of inner expression and personal experiences. There is no set form with poetry, there are no rules of grammar. In contrast, academic writing does require this. Being able to address issues in critical essays with proper grammar is helpful for preparing in academic or professional social interactions. Both styles of writing have impacted my personal work in the way that I know when certain assignments call for creativity and when more formal approaches are necessary.
By writing about poetry versus writing my own poetry, I learned that all forms of writing are exercises for the building of any writing skill. Neither, in my personal opinion is more important than the other. Even if you are an individual who is aspiring to write fiction or publish their own poems, you should still exercise your skill in academic settings. In regards to my future in teaching, I can see how important it is to value the creative side of writing. Not all students are going to agree that essays are better than writing poetry or vice-versa. By allowing students to experience both sides of the writing spectrum, educators are giving the young minds of a classroom more variety and freedom to express themselves. In the future I would love to give my students the chance to write their own short stories and poems in the classroom. In my opinion, sharing poetry can definitely bring students together.
