In the 14th century, writers wanted to present depths of emotion, but were constrained by the rules pre-determined by the language speakers. Let’s call those grammar rules. So they started deviating from those rules.
They created what we now know as poetic license, to give themselves space and room to write beyond the edges. To create words that never existed. To say things in ways that had never been said before because our shared language was restrictive and didn’t know better.
Because of poetic license, we learnt how to love better and express love better. We learnt to code and decode. We chose different paths to rhythm and creativity. We learnt to craft beauty in strings of words. Our love for language grew; we built different taste buds and sat with our favourites.
We showed ourselves what was possible.
The Chinese calls this “诗的破格” (shī de pò gé) meaning poetic rule-breaking. It implies that you know what your group considers right and wrong. And you intentionally find a way to express the beauty of art beyond those constraints.
Isn’t that a good metaphor for living the life you want? Isn’t that a good metaphor for a life worth living?