What is the purpose of imagery in poetry? What is the purpose of imagery in odes, elegies, haikus, sonnets and lyrics? Thanks

The
purpose ofin poetry is to help get the poet's message across in language that is strong, vivid
and very visual. The poet will use words to create images in our heads that help us to interpret
the poem in the way he sees it. Every person has a different view on life and poets are inspired
to record theirs for others to read and identify with. Sometimes, such as in "Vampire"
by Ted Hughes, the images will be gruesome - as in a party host with  a slack mouth like a
gaping sack. Sometimes, such as in Shakespeare (Sonnet 18) the images are delicate and beautiful
as in "shall I compare thee to a summer's day." Sometimes poets use similes in
comparison, sometimes they useand sometimes . All create visuals for us, whether to shock or
delight.