| In this age of Multimedia, poets should not be afraid to use visual cues and word- or sound-play to better convey their ideas---a poem's form can effectively dictate the theme, scope, language, approach, and reception of the work. While narrative poems rely less on visual arrangement, depending more on a smooth and linear syntactical flow to convey the primary ideas, the use of visual effects can change how a reader or listener interprets this proffered information. Of course, functionality is important at both extremes---one must be careful not to offer excess narrative or flashy visual elements that have no practical application in the scope of the work. Combined with the use of metaphor to link a work's themes or images, form is a vital part of a poem, ensuring coherence and cohesion of the work as a whole. |
