People use different forms of art to express themselves. Deena Metzger discussed healing through poetry on Nov. 11 and shared some of her own poetry at the Oxnard College Literature, Arts and Lecture Series.

Author of “Writing for Life,” “Ruin and Beauty,” and “From Grief into Fiction,” Metzger shared a few of her published poems to the audience to promote the power of the written word and a “person’s expression” through poetry.

“Poems are a way to express what one saw or knew,” said Metzger. “A poet is someone who walks-knows how to walk, and commits herself or himself to develop a certain consciousness to the world.”

She began the lecture with a short autobiography about herself, how reading books at an early age and seeing her dad as a writer persuaded her to write.

“Once I wanted to be a poet, my life was characterized by two questions,” said Metzger. “What is it really to be a poet, and would I be good enough?”

After overcoming her nerves, poetry flowed from Metzger. She shared some of her work with the audience.

One poem talked about a tree and how it had gone through long, terrible events (freezing winters, rainstorms, being struck by lightning, and fires), but had never failed to provide a family with ripe fruit and protection from the sun’s harmful rays. The message of the poem and the lecture was that the tree knew the art of living, and that art was love, said Metzger.

“I was pleased hearing her poems she presented,” said 17-year-old Christine Mendez, a creative writing major. “Each poem makes you think about the important subjects in life, and that is the ‘reality’ of our world.”

Once the lecture was over, students were left with a new understanding of writing.

“She’s a good inspiration not just to poets and writers, but everyone,” said 23-year-old engineering major Oscar Padilla.