A Poet Is a Maker
Poetry is composition in verse. The Greek word for poet simply means maker, and Scots kept that sense literally.
Poetry is composition in verse. The Greek *poietes* means a maker, from *poiein*, to make — poets were named for the act of construction rather than for inspiration. Medieval Scots translated it directly: the great Scottish poets of the fifteenth century are called *makars*, which is simply the same idea in English.
- Composition in verse. *A book of poetry.*
- Poetic quality. *The poetry of the scene.*
- Poem — a single work. *A short poem.*
- Poetic licence — deviation from fact for effect. *Poetic licence.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | poetry | Modern poetry. |
| Noun | poem | A long poem. |
| Person | poet | A published poet. |
| Adjective | poetic | Poetic imagery. |
| Scots | makar | The Scots makars. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Poet means maker in Greek.From *poiein*, to make.
- Scotland appoints a national Makar.Its poet laureate.
- Poetry in motion.Describing graceful movement.
Poetic forms
- Sonnet — fourteen lines, in several rhyme schemes
- Haiku — a Japanese form, often rendered as three lines
- Villanelle — nineteen lines with two repeating refrains
- Free verse — without regular metre or rhyme
- Blank verse — unrhymed iambic pentameter, Shakespeare's usual line
From Greek *poietes*, a maker, from *poiein*, to make or create. The Scots *makar* translates it directly.
What is a makar?
The Scots word for a poet, meaning a maker. Scotland's national poet holds the title of Makar.
Poetry or poem?
A poem is a single work. Poetry is the art form or a body of such works.