Theopoetics, Poetry, and the Poem

A definitional and etymological discussion of poetics and poetry as they pertain to theopoetics.

Classic Greek has the noun poema and the verb poiein; "a created thing" and "to make," respectively. Theo is Greek for God.

The English author Samuel Johnson wrote, "The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar, and familiar things new."

Percy Shelley added, "Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world."

I work with the word theopoetics from the intersection of these ideas: theopoetics is the theory and practice of making God known, particularly through language.