A poet is one who has a gift from God to write;he writes from deep inspiration with a profound imagination to touch the hearts and souls of his readers.Writing poetry is also a craft and must be taught by great masters of that craft.The poet therefore must be a very avid reader to learn how to hone his craft properly.Reading is key to the poet/fiction writer success.

What is really the purpose of the poet is society?The poet sometimes is very isolated and has no place among the intellectuals and elites in contemporary society.In many cases the poet’s work is not widely read like the novelist,journalist and writers of various genres of creative writing.It’s because poetry is not readily understood by the ordinary and even academic minds if they don’t value and appreciate poetry.

A page of Shakespeare,Dante or Tagore’s poetry can really explore the true meaning and immortal essence of life unlike the novel that covers hundreds of pages to be explored for just a few lines of profound thoughts.Poetry in my opinion is food for the human soul;the poet sees beneath the surface of things in the invisible camera of his eyes.He writes and depicts life hidden in obscure imagery and symbolism to fool the normal reader.

Though poets may be disregarded they have their place in society like T.S.Eliot who was world renown literary critic and nobel laureate Derek Walcott is also another very important contemporary poet whose magnum opus the Omeros won the Nobel Prize in 1992 among a huge body of poetical works, he has contributed to the literary world.

The poet should never allow adverse circumstances to discourage his true potential as a poet;he must continue to write and write and never stop until he reaches his ultimate goal as a poet who will expose hypocrisy,biogatry,and corruption in his poetry.The function of the poet must always be respected and honoured by every citizen of the world.

The poet who acknowleges the muse as his guide and inspiration is the true God gifted poet;he knows he is called by a superior force to write as Plato mentioned ”poets utters great and wise things which they themselves do not understand.The poet has a great role to play in society because his words will reform society;immortalized by fame.