I was sitting at a table with my peers, about to eat my lunch when I realized how far America has fallen.
Perhaps that’s a bit dramatic, but let me explain. I was sitting there, minding my own business and being a fly on the wall, per usual, when one of them brought up the question of teaching poetry in school. Of course, everyone stated their opinion and I was appalled.
At a table of ten teenagers, only one (me!) thought poetry was important.
In fact, the rest of the nine said that poetry is stupid and has absolutely no reason to it.
Now, why does that bother me, besides the fact that I wrote a published a poetry book? Let me take you back just a little bit over 100 years ago to the year 1917. America had just joined WWI, and tons of men were being shipped over the sea to fight.
Do you know what those men did once they came back?
Many of them became poets. An Englishman became one of the best known Christian writers of that century, another created a world with it’s own language.
Why do I bring this up?
Poetry is a way of expression. Emily Dickenson wrote once “This is my letter to the world that never wrote me.” People don’t understand poetry because people don’t understand themselves and others anymore. They don’t understand the emotions that shimmer in the artist’s breasts, because instead we’ve been told that we’ll be given whatever we ask. We’ve been told to admire those who are tasked with feats of strength and valor instead of the artist who pens words that revolve around the mind that belongs to the athlete.
Poetry elevates the soul. Edgar Allen Poe wrote, “To elevate the soul, poetry is necessary.” There is something in poetry that is prestigious, and you have to reach above your comfort to find the elevation of the soul that is necessary for growth.
Poetry is a way to communicate with God. David himself wrote poems as prayers, and we have a whole history of humans who translated their prayers into poems that have become hymns today. Poetry is a communication with another realm, and ability to write things that you feel but can’t say in prose. It’s a minuet minute where you can bare your soul with the protection of not being taken 100% seriously.
Poetry is an art, it’s the art of communicating with the soul, and yet, this day and age we find the soul unimportant and the art as dead. There is no need to touch the soul with poetry, to take the time to read without noise, to hear without our ears, to see with nothing but ink and paper.
I have no good conclusion for this post, it’s more of a ramble from my soul. But what do you think about poetry? Is it dead or lost or is it thriving?
~~Amie~~
AMIE ANNE 
My opinion about poetry? I think poetry is beautiful, necessary and can be – most of the time is – refreshingly therapeutic. The art of shaping and wielding words to touch people’s hearts and minds will never lose it’s power though our culture may make the mistake of devaluing it. Thanks so much for your thoughts and gifts of poetry! ❤
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You’re so welcome. Thank you for leaving a comment!
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Ofc! ❤
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Wow, that’s really sad that people think poetry isn’t important. Poetry is so beautiful and so expressive and so needed.
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I agree! ❤
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Oh my goodness, I can’t even begin to explain how deeply I resonate with your thoughts that were beautifully expressed. As a teen, I’ve seen a similar ignorant mindset prevalent around and it breaks my heart to see art brushed away like it’s unimportant and not pure beauty.
“They don’t understand the emotions that shimmer in the artist’s breasts, because instead we’ve been told that we’ll be given whatever we ask. We’ve been told to admire those who are tasked with feats of strength and valor instead of the artist who pens words that revolve around the mind that belongs to the athlete.”
This was so beautiful and heartfelt. Thank you so much for sharing!
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You’re so welcome!
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I agree with you, Amie! I think poetry is an important thing, too. 🙂
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Hi Amie! My first visit here.
Given the choice between reading poetry and other genres poetry is my preference without question.
I think in this particular instance you were sitting at the wrong table.
If I were a gazillion years younger and a classmate at your school I’d love to sit and talk about poetry with you … for a long time.
A.
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I would love to have that conversation with you. 🙂
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Any time … really! 🙂
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I definitely agree with you about the importance of poetry! I go to a classical school, so we read many ancient poets. I see how it can be difficult for people to enjoy reading it, but the more I’m exposed to it, the more I’ve learned to enjoy and appreciate it. It really is beautiful and a wonderful gift from God!
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15 years ago when I started writing online, I was told poetry was dead and there was no use in me posting my poetry. While I have done article writing for years, poetry is a part of my soul. Poetry is not dead you just have to look for like minded people.
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My thought on poetry…
Poetry is another way of communication. Another language. Like music or art.
And like anything, you can’t appreciate it until you take the time to understand it. But once you do you will look at everything just a little differently and be able to see more of the awesome beauty God has created.
I pity those at your table.
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Hey Amie. Wow. Remember the days on CR Hedgcock’s website? That was a great time.
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It was such a great time!
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