Poetry is an ancient art form dating back thousands of years. It is presented as spoken or written communication in meters, rhymes, and stanzas informing heartfelt personal or social messages to bring awareness to life’s situations. Poetic meters are rhythmic patterns in a verse, sentence, or line in a poem. While poetic rhymes are two or more words with similar sounding syllables in a poem, poetic stanzas are ideas and themes organized and structured according to the poets intended message. Another poetic art form is noted as “freestyle which requires no defined meter, no consistent rhyme scheme, and no specified length or formal requirements and is known as a vers libre” (writers.com).
The oldest poetic writings acknowledged are “The Epic of Gilgamesh, which apparently began as a series of Sumerian poems and tales dating to 2100 B.C. But a completed version dates to the 12th century B.C.” (history.com/news). Throughout history, numerous authors have written inspirational poetic messages–some famous and some unknown. The most memorable inspirational writings are poetic words sung in songs and passed from one generation to another, such as:
Amazing Grace
written by John Newton, born August 4, 1725, in England. John was a cleric and captain of a slave ship, and later became an abolitionist.
America the Beautiful
written by Katherine Lee Bates. born August 12, 1859, in Falmouth, MA. Katherine was a pastor’s daughter, became a professor at Wellesley College in 1893, and submitted her poem America the Beautiful in 1895 to the Congregationalist, a nationally circulated magazine (Colorado College).
At the Cross
written by Isaac Watts, born July 17, 1674, in England. Isaac was an English Christian minister and hymnwriter of many notable Christians songs.
Battle Hymn of the Republic
written by Julia Ward Howe, born May 27, 1819, in New York, NY. Julia was an American author, poet, and abolitionist.
God Bless America
written and sung by Irving Berlin, born May 11, 1888, in Russia and came to the United States when he was five years old.
How Great Thou Art
written by Carl Boberg, born August 16, 1859, in Sweden. Carl was a poet and an elected official.
My Country Tis of Thee
written by Samuel Francis Smith, born October 28, 1808, in Boston, MA. He was a Baptist minister, a journalist, and an author.
“Sing unto God sing praises to his name: extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him” (Psalm 68:4).
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