This principal applies to the writing process as well. Paradoxically, students find the brevity of poetic expression more within their control yet condensation of thought and feeling more intellectually challenging. Moreover, the visual configuration of a typical poem not only seems more limited and accessible but also lends itself to classroom display and easier collection in student anthologies. The concentration of poetic expression models the desirable economy of good writing in any genre. The intensity of poetic language provides rich distillation of meaning and feeling, offering opportunity for microcosmic language learning.
Poets use fresh, unconventional diction and syntax.
More than any other type of discourse, poetry employs engaging sensory experiences that young readers and writers enjoy. The musical qualities of rhythm and rhyme, when present, and other sound devices such as alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia make the oral interpretation and choral reading of poetry delightful to young people. Moreover, exploring sensory imagery adds a concrete dimension of tactile, olfactory, auditory, visual and gustatory involvement that enhances learning enjoyment. One conventional measure of cognitive skills is the ability to recognize analogy and to perceive accurately the relationship of the concrete to the abstract. The comprehension and appreciation of metaphor requires acute observation and analytical skills.