Words are used in a million different ways. They are used as chatter between friends, as emotion between lovers, as formalities between superiors. Yet something I've learned is that words can be used to evoke a feeling like never before.
I started writing poetry like everyone else in elementary school, where it took 15 minutes to rhyme something with "cat." I thought I was the reincarnation of Dr. Seuss. Yet, as years went on, my vocabulary, brain, and poetry all matured, and from there it was the start of something amazing.
Think of the ocean. Using poetry, it could take one line or 100 lines to describe what you see, feel, hear, smell, and taste. It could be as a metaphor of feelings of calmness, or of feelings of hopelessness. It could be lonliness or it could be the love of solitude. However you want to spin it, it could be.
Think of a friend. What would you say to that friend if you could? Would it be anger or love? Would you speak the truth about yourself or about them? Would you dwell on memories or would you talk about the future? However you want to spin it, it could be.
Finally, think about yourself. What do you feel? What do you think? What would you change? What do you love? Who do you love? Do you love yourself? Do you hate yourself? What do you feel...
This is poetry. The world around us, the people we come in contact with, the feelings we share. Poetry is a sacred thing, something that can only be written by the creator. It's about anything, everything, and nothing. Let it be about nothing. Let it be about everything. Just let it be.
Give it a try. When you feel down, or immensly happy, take a pen and paper, or open a new document, and let it out. It doesn't have to rhyme; in fact, the best poems often don't. Just let it all out, see where your mind takes you. You may look up and realize that you too have a masterpiece.
