Using different perspectives in poetry is a powerful technique that adds depth, richness, and empathy to the poetic narrative. By stepping into the mind and experiences of various characters, objects, or even abstract concepts, poets expand their horizons. By doing this, we can offer a layered exploration of emotions and situations.
I recently had a workshop with the lovely poet and author Rena Joy. It was run through The Poetry Club with Shelby Leigh that I am currently a part of. In the workshop, Rena talked about how to use different points of view when crafting your poems. We did a number of writing exercises, such as taking on the perspective of a wolf or a flower. We also did a writing prompt using the collective “we” instead of “I” in a poem. I took the last exercise to heart to express a feeling of guilt that I have recently been carrying when I look at the state of the world right now. This feeling hits me hard when I see the suffering of children. My poem goes like this:
The Children on the News
We avert our gaze from the children on the news.
We cannot take their suffering; we reach for the remote.
We don’t know what to do, we feel powerless, of no use.
Our minds are scrambling for answers that we always loose.
So we just carry on and go about our day.
We walk our children to school and tuck them into bed.
Soft little hands dig into our larger palms.
Rosy cheeks and laughing eyes while they are rushing off to play.
At night they snuggle up with stuffed animals and milk.
Rocked to dreams in their beds of silk.
As we watch them sleep and our eyes tear up with love.
A sting of guilt pierces through for the ones we couldn't save.
Poetry About World Guilt
Poetry is a powerful way to express emotions and deal with the complexities of human experience. When feeling guilty about the state of the world, poetry provides a special way to reflect and find relief.
The feeling of guilt during global turmoil is a strong theme in many poems. T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” is a notable example. This famous poem explores disillusionment and despair after World War I, reflecting the widespread sense of guilt felt. Eliot’s work is a strong representation of the collective remorse and chaos during that time.
Poets use words and metaphors to express their deep sense of responsibility and regret. They also use them to shed light on the chaotic global events that trouble them. By using techniques like changing perspectives, imagery, and storytelling, poets bring to life the internal struggle and moral conflicts that come with facing the harsh realities of the world.
Through poems, we can invite readers to find comfort in sharing the acknowledgment of collective guilt. Essentially, poetry becomes a way to process the sense of moral responsibility and guilt that comes from thinking about how unjust the world is. It serves as a powerful way to build empathy, understanding, and, ultimately, inspire positive action when dealing with societal challenges.
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