This article is the expressed opinion of the writer in discussing who is a poet and what is poetry. It equally described his experience many years earlier while aspiring to understand the art of poetry writing.

A poet is a person who writes poetry. A Poem has been described as '' a piece of writing in which the words are chosen for their sound and the images they suggest, not just for their obvious meanings''. It may be observed that the words are arranged in separate lines, usually with a repeated rhythm, and in some situations the lines rhyme at the end.

Poets generally have a message to deliver to their audience. This message may be rendered in different styles and format. The essential ingredient is that a poem is a collection of thoughts woven in a special way. The work of a poet can be literal, meaning that his work is derivable out of a specific event, or it could be metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms.

Poetry is as old as history of human existence. Ages in the past, expressions in poetic forms had been part of literature, language and civilizations of different cultures and people. Hence it is common to note terms like; English Poetry, French Poetry, Chinese Poetry and the likes.

A poet Laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government who is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events. Different countries have a poet Laureate at different periods of time. The word laureate in English actually signify eminence or is associated with glory as in the word Nobel laureate.

My first respect for the world of poetry happened sometimes in 1982. I was having a chart with an uncle of mine whom I respect so much for his brilliance and intelligence. I had just gotten an admission into Teacher Training College and at the same time was preparing for my GCE 'O' Level Examinations. My uncle asked me of the list of subjects I will take during the exams and I listed among them Literature-In-English. He screamed! ''Literature''? '' I fear Literature-in-English especially Poetry aspect of it''.

I was really taken aback for his reaction and fear for Literature-in-English. In fact, I was scared. This is because the person in my view was highly intelligent and he did wonderfully well in his School Certificate Examination results with seven distinctions and two credit passes on subjects like Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and the likes. I felt that if Literature-in-English should be hard and feared by my uncle, indeed the subject must be a stubborn and difficult one. Unknown to my tender mind that my uncle was just a good student of science related subjects not arts.

Upon resuming at the college, I armed myself with the following three-point agenda in order to arrest and conquer great Literature-in-English.

• I joined Literary and Debating Society
• I became active in Press Club and school Drama Society
• Deliberately developing keen interest in Literature-in-English subject with deeper interest in Poetry.

I gave myself the task of writing poems and presenting it during various school activities. Before long, I found out that I became like an 'expert' among my mates and juniors in poetry renditions. No wonder I did wonderfully well in the subsequent examinations and Literature-in-English became my most adored subject.

Poets are like philosophers. They are aware of their past, present and are endowed in some ways to peep into the future. No wonder some writings of some past poets have become golden light of truths in today's world. I love the world of poetry. I am equally facsinated by simple lines that are easy to read and understand especially for non-literature friendly people like my uncle so that they can enjoy the creative writings of human mind.