How does imagery help to understand a poem?

Poetry acquaints students with the types of images—visual,
auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, kinetic, and kinesthetic—all of which partially
account for the appeal and validity of poetry. Real images in a poem lend reality to the
poem’s assertions. The logic of understanding imagery is this: Readers have seen many of
the same things that poets describe (sun, moon, stars, ocean), and have also perceived
many similar things (roses, boats, fish, sweethearts, boats, singers, songs, jewels,
hair, and so on). Therefore, references to these things create a bond of perception
authenticating the presuppositions, responses, attitudes, thoughts, and ideas of
poetry.