THE POET'S ANGLE

THE POET'S ANGLE

                           

The term "poetic license" describes the act of a writer or poet to change facts or rules in order to make a story or poem more interesting or effective.

The term itself comes from Latin. Poetic comes from the Latin word for "poet" which means "poet" or "creator." The license comes from the Latin licentia, which means "to be authorized". Essentially, poetic freedom involves moving away from facts or even the rules of language in order to create a different effect, usually dramatic, for a work or performance.

The opening stanza of Percy Bysshe Shelley's famous poem To the Lark is a good example of poetic freedom. This suggests that the lark soared almost to heaven. Shelley takes an even more poetic dose, declaring that the lark is a spirit, not a bird.

Glory to you, merry Spirit!

You've never been a bird

Is it from heaven or next to it

Pour out your full heart

An abundance of unintentional art.