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David Ryan
April 29, 2016
Section 7
Final Definition of Poetic
The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.
-- Nathaniel Branden
As the school year began, I set out on an extensive journey in which my ultimate
objective was to arrive at a definition for the word poetic. Throughout the course of this
project, I have come to understand how difficult it is to define this complex word. It
appears simple, elementary, and seemingly understandable, yet its true meaning
remains utterly ambiguous at the same time. Upon the completion of this project, I was
able to express my interpretation of what exactly the term conveys. I have concluded
that poetic can be used to describe objects, moments, or experiences that are
seemingly ordinary yet have an underlying value and importance that can be inspiring or
insightful. There are moments in life that may appear mundane, but when we examine
them further, we see how relevant and meaningful these moments actually are. The
importance of them could be related to their beauty, symbolism, or the manner in which
they are expressed.
Poetic occurrences are informative because they give us tremendous insight that
helps us understand various facets of life. This insight helps humans acquire knowledge
about the world around them, themselves, and how they can grow to be better people.
An example of this could be when an elderly grandfather talks to his grandson about
how much the world has changed since he was a boy. The child is able to learn about

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the evolution of societal culture, and he sees what he can do to contribute to this
culture, hopefully improving upon it. The insight that a person gains could also be a form
of inspiration. Inspiration is the driving force behind self development and the main
mechanism by which others can develop themselves.
The word poetic is subjective, and whats poetic to me may not be poetic to
you. Poetic moments are almost always relevant to oneself because that is what
enables one to appreciate the moment and try to decipher the meaning of an
experience. Relevance is one of the few aspects of an object that lead to a person
becoming interested in that object. When a person becomes interested, they will come
to see the meaning of it. Therefore, relevance leads to discovering the meaning behind
something. Finding meaning is what the word poetic is all about. For example, in The
Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Walter searches for the meaning of his life. His adventures in
the middle of the ocean and in the Himalayas lead him to find his lifes purpose. Walter
Mitty realizes that dreams can only get a person so far, and real actions and
experiences are the only way for these dreams to come true.
There are many different ways that humans identify something as poetic. The
most common is the characteristic of beauty. Beauty catches our eye and compels us to
discover the essence of an object. Without it, we would be blind to the aesthetic value of
the world around us. We are attracted to objects of great beauty because it is our nature
to strive for perfection; however, everybody interprets beauty differently. For example, in
Israel Kamakawiwooles Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Israel describes his vision of
heaven. The song depicts a subjective view of beauty, but this beauty could be very

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different from someone elses views. Like the meaning of the word poetic, beauty is
subjective.
The final and most important aspect that one must decipher when trying to
understand the meaning of the word poetic is the human's ability to feel or sense. God
gave all humans five senses for the purpose of interpreting their surroundings. These
senses allow us to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. They are vital for interpreting the
physical world, but there is also a sixth sense. It is more powerful than all the others and
it lets us feel in a unique and unusual way. It is called emotion. We all know that feeling
that one gets when he or she hears or watches something incredibly meaningful.
Goosebumps rise on our arms and we feel a chill go down our spines. This feeling is
like no other and it gives us this sense of wow. Just like the word poetic, these
moments are difficult to describe because there are no words in the dictionary that can
express the excitement we get when we have these experiences.
Although challenging to define, the word poetic is one of the most vivid and
vibrant words in the English dictionary. The best way to give meaning to the word is to
experience poetic moments. Therefore, a person will continue to find its meaning for the
entirety of his or her lifetime. The definition will never be absolutely complete because
everyone has their own subjective interpretation of the term. That is what makes it so
complex and unique. The journey and the vision will never end but cherishing every
poetic moment and finding the poetic in ordinary things will lead to a purposeful and
worthwhile life.