Through the lens of childhood memories and personal growth, this essay explores how poetry evolves from simple rhymes to complex expressions of the human spirit, revealing itself as the foundation of love rather than its product.

When I was much younger, I adored Barney and his songs with rhyming words. I loved how clever his wordplay was. I laughed and jumped and sang along, but more importantly, I was impacted by his songs. They taught me how to brush my teeth and what it meant to be part of a family. They taught me the importance of friendship and they taught me my ABCs. As I grew up, the love I had for Barney translated into a love for Disney.

I was spellbound by the craftsmanship. The raw power of the lyrics I heard. All my favourite princesses taught me a thing or two and described feelings I never knew. I felt the desire to be part of a world in which one doesn't belong, the feeling of knowing someone you've never met before, the thrill of love and freedom, and the strength of a dream you can't run away from. I knew the calling of something you shouldn't want, the essence of lesson number one, the drive to work till you drop, and the inclination to go where you've never gone before. Hercules sang a hero's song, Megara didn't want to admit she was in love, Mirabel's family realized she was the key all along, even Gabriella wanted to run away from everything she knew and start over once more. All these characters took me on journeys with their songs. I couldn't believe how moved I was and how potent my feelings were.

At my current age, my love for lyrics now fuels a love of poetry. The transition from tween to young adult witnessed a translation from love of song to love of words. I found that there was a melody in everything and that was what Disney had been telling me all along. The realization made me appreciate words even more and it was then I understood it was no coincidence poetry evolved from song. It nobly seeks to explain the symphony of the human spirit without the notes or melody. It seeks to explain such complexity in just words. It captures the rage akin to 'Winter' by Vivaldi and the whimsicality of '№ 14 Pas De Deux' by Tchaikovsky.

I still remember the first poem I read. It was Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I was mesmerized by her composition of words and the world she built around me from nothing but dust, moreover, I was captured by the intensity of her love. I imagined that only true love could inspire such a poem. I remembered all the songs I still adore and realized they were all about love. Every princess was in love with someone or something or a dream. Every character in the movies had something that fueled their spirit. People alike. Getting to know people meant recognizing what they love and how much they love it.

As of 2020, my understanding changed. I had believed love was behind every astounding piece of poetry. I then knew an astounding piece of poetry is behind the greatest loves and even the not-so-great ones. I found that our souls are constantly singing. Whether to whisper a gentle song or scream till their throats are raw, our souls desire to make themselves heard with a song. A poem. A combination of words. That is why the poet chases love because it draws those words out of us. The love I recognized in people for others, themselves, places, dreams, memories, and feelings had their own distinct songs with their own distinct words. Four years later, I still hear the beautiful words of the people around me continually falling in and out of love.