Difference Between Poetry and Song

When it comes to the same composition nature of lyrical terms, you can say poetry and song can come under the same section. But the difference lies in them when it comes to making them turn into each other, which can go one way but maybe not vice versa.

In simpler words, you can write poetry without setting it onto music, but writing a song without the poetic verse can be tricky. This link between them is interdependent but yet brings out the differences that are hard to ignore. Both are artistic tools, yet in the ears and eyes of common people, it can come across as the same, but when you put the rhythm to it, it embraces itself into a tune with lyrical beauty.

Poetry vs Song

The main difference between poetry and song is that poetry is an artistic tool that involves and surrounds the term “language”, which has the impact to express more in a few words. On the other hand, Song is a musical composition consisting of lyrical verse that can be more definitive, and with music, it is inalienably linked and related. Poetry can come with just words that can be read, whereas, for a song to come into existence, it needs to be sung by singers.

Poetry, with its few words limited to a certain language, tends to portray deeper meaning than just the words mentioned. Poetry comes a long way through nursery rhymes, poems with patriotic and nationalistic feelings, and of course, poems with literary references and feelings. To break the term poetry, one can say that poetry is more of a creative expression of emotions, feelings, and references that are divided into various sections like epics, jazz, and even nursery.

Song, on the other hand, encompasses a musical composition that needs tune and music and comes into lively mode only when sung by the singers. Although the song can be sung, it comes into maximum effect when sung with musical instruments that enhance its impact with an impact of rhythmic impression. Songs are also further divided into religious, pop, artistic, and so on.

Comparison Table Between Poetry and Song

Parameters of ComparisonPoetry Song 
Definition Poetry is usually written to express and communicate beautiful thoughts that are creative and are elevated. The song can be a set of words, known as lyrics, that are set to certain music and are required to be sung. 
Musical Instruments Musical Instruments are not necessary to read or recite a poem. Musical instruments bring out the best and maximum effect of a song. 
Words Poetry consists of groups of words that are written together known as stanzas. A song consists of a set of words that are sung and is called lyrics. 
RhythmPoetry is not bound to a rhythm. A song is more dependent on a certain rhythm. 
Content Poetry is usually written on the basis of one’s emotion, creative thinking, and perception of a person, place, or even a thing. The song is usually written to remind and remember one’s personal feelings and even experiences. 

What is Poetry?

Most people around the world are associated with the term poetry, but their meaning can be descriptive for different people across the globe. There are numerous poets and poetesses that came through generations of English literature, giving us epics and sonnets as a part of incredible poetry, which later converted into modern poetry besides nursery rhymes. Poetry comes a long way through nursery rhymes, poems with patriotic and nationalistic feelings, and of course, poems with literary references and feelings. Poetry or poems are appreciated for the verses written by the manner of it.

Poetry is a pattern of someone’s creative and elevated thought, webbed into verses known as poetry. Moreover, poetry can also be considered as a composition that is usually written or reciting: especially for communicating those beautiful and imaginative thoughts that can get one’s mind and enhance the listener’s passion for framed words that can intrigue emotions and hidden meanings. These hidden meanings are found among the lines of the words written in poetry known as stanzas or verses.

Modern poetry is divided into nursery rhymes to popular poems. It uses different languages, meanings, ideas, and spreading consciousness that extend from the current global situation, and even literary works are surrounded by sacred concepts. Poets like Shakespeare and Rabindranath Tagore, both national and global, gave us epic poems through their personal feelings and emotions in categories like nationality, love, and passion. A poem needs to be read to bring out its best essence and not necessarily require any musical instrument.

What is Song?

What is a song if you are tuned to its music, and you can hum it even when you are busy finishing your work? It is the thing about songs. They get stuck in your head, ready to be sung and overwhelm you with emotions and feelings at the same time. But the concept of the song came down a long way with generations of evaluation with the greatest of singers with amazing songs. A song is supported by musical instruments that help it to bring out the best and maximum effect of it along with its essence.

A song consists of a set of words that are sung and is called lyrics and is more dependent on a certain rhythm. The concept of a song encompasses a musical composition that needs tune and music and comes into lively mode only when sung by the singers. As a matter of fact, a song will have words set in such a manner that they will rhyme and tune as if in poetry. This event is done to have more of an enhanced effect on the song written. Farther, songs may be divided into categories like religious, folk, pop, and even artistic. Amazingly, every soul comes across songs every day.

The song is very much dependent on the selection of the lyrics written in it by the songwriters and the music associated with it. It is also dependent on how the singer is singing it because a song can bring out different essence by the way it is sung and is able to reach the listeners. However, a song can also be set to a pre-existing piece of music that can be modified with other musical instruments.

Main Differences Between Poetry and Song

  • Poetry does not impulsive require musical instruments to be played with them, whereas it is quite evident to play musical instruments with a song to bring out its best essence.
  • Poetry has many groups of words that are put together. They are called stanzas. Song, on the other hand, has a set of words that are sung known as lyrics.
  • Poetry focuses on the creative side of literary writing that is impacted by elevated thoughts of a person, place, and nature. The song is more personal with its feelings and experiences.
  • Songs are more dependent on the concept of a rhythm, which is not a factor with poetry. Rhythm is a choice of poetry.
  • Poetry can be read, written, and recited and not necessarily be sung, whereas a song needs to be sung for maximum effect and has to be poetical.
  • Conclusion 

    In the world of artistic references, poetry and song go hand-in-hand as they are both impactful with creative measures, elevated thoughts, beautiful emotions, and feelings. However, there is a difference between them when it comes to how it is written and how it moulds into the artistic world. Poetry is not sung but recited, whereas a song needs to be sung out to understand the feeling shared by the artist or songwriter. Moreover, a poem has a deeper meaning and point of view than a song because it relates to personal opinions and feelings in particular.

    References

  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/20174545
  • https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-BFLC201301010.htm
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