Definition of poetry

The word "poetry" has its roots in ancient Greece. The Greek word "poiesis" (ποιΗΣΗΣ) means "creation" or "making," and was used to describe any form of creative production, including poetry, music, and theater. The Greek poet Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are some of the earliest surviving examples of poetry in the Western tradition. The Latin language adopted the Greek word "poiesis" and translated it as "poesis," which meant "poem" or "composition." This Latin word was later adopted into Old French as "poèsie," and eventually into Middle English as "poetry." Throughout the centuries, the meaning of "poetry" has expanded to include not only classical forms of poetry but also modern and contemporary forms, including free verse, sonnets, and other styles of written and spoken word.