In order to understand a poem, a reader should have a sharp chisel and hammer to uncover the meaning the poet has placed underneath. So, reading and understanding a poem also needs the same kind of passion. As a polar bear knows where the fish lies under the ice and breaks it to catch it, a good reader does so to catch the essence of poetry. Local language, images, symbols and myths are some other important elements to make a good poem. In English romanticism, nature is more important than duty whereas for Americans, duty is more important than nature though the latter is beautiful. Poets use limited words and phrases to give a poem its local colour. Poetry uses a small canvas with small brushstrokes unlike prose. This gives the poet his or her true identity.

A poem can be written in verse or prose. The classical long poems are like ancient architecture while modern prose poems are like modern buildings. In the past, people used to spend much time perfecting their creation. In modern times, people have developed a new taste and love to become an experimentalist. They want to be different from others. Experimentation in language, form and style has given birth to newness in poetry. All poets write poems. These poems have a certain universality which makes people everywhere understand them. But the poets use local materials to give a local taste to their creations. For example, poets like Thomas Hardy, Robert Frost and American novelist Mark Twain are known as regional writers. American poet Ted Hughes used animal images in his poems. In conclusion, poets in every part of the world write poems using personal styles, local language and images and techniques keeping themselves distinct from one another. Still their poems hold the quality of being universal.