While lyric poems often focus on personal emotions and experiences, they can definitely tell a story.
Here's why:
* Narrative elements: Many lyric poems use elements of storytelling like characters, setting, and plot, though often in a more compressed or symbolic way.
* Examples: Poems like "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe or "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats have a clear narrative thread.
* Focus on emotion: Lyric poems primarily focus on emotions and experiences, but these emotions can often be driven by a narrative situation.
It's more accurate to say that lyric poems are not *always* story-driven. They are a diverse genre with a range of focus, including:
* Emotional exploration: Expressing personal feelings, thoughts, and reflections.
* Descriptive imagery: Creating vivid pictures with language.
* Musicality: Emphasizing rhythm and sound devices.
Therefore, while lyric poems might not *always* tell a story, they can certainly do so, and many do.