Call me a romantic, but I tend to read more poetry near Valentine’s Day. Lately, I have read lovely, lyrical, romantic poetry. The kind that touches your soul and makes you want to curl up under a blanket by a fire, and count the snowflakes outside the window. Recently, it has occurred to me that poetry parallels life. What if we lived our lives in the same way we read poetry: slowly, thoughtfully, authentically, purposefully?
Poetry is not to communicate information. It is to give us a sense and a perception of life. It is not to tell us about experience, but to allow us to participate in it fully.
Poetry is the most concentrated form of literature. It tells us, more is not better.
Poetry is active and rhythmic. It draws on resources to deepen our experiences. We use all of our senses to absorb it: intellect, imagination, emotion.
Poetry is alive. Its function is to allow us to live more meaningful, richer lives.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Comments
1 Margie Gelbwasser // Feb 16, 2010 at 6:52 pm
What a beautiful way of looking at poetry! I especially like the comparison of living life like we read poetry.
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