Page 278

What Is Poetry?

The poet Marianne Moore defines poetry as “imaginary gardens with real toads in them.” Good poetry is always creative and, at times, a bit playful. An effective poem takes us away to an “imaginary garden,” yet it often springs from a real experience—one of the many “toads” hopping in and out of our daily lives.

What makes poetry different from prose (the regular writing you do)? Here are some of the differences that make poetry so special.