Pets

Poetry in Contemporary Society

In this ever-changing 21st century, with all its rapid technological advances, we tend to receive information in short bursts. We read emails and text messages quickly, we surf the web, often in a hurry, jumping from page to page via links. We also tend to read fewer newspapers, magazines, and longer substantial articles.

We are a society of channel surfers, with hundreds and hundreds of diverse specialty channels delivered to our living rooms via cable and satellite. We see a bit of this, a bit of that, while our thought processes are interrupted by often silly advertisements designed to convince us to buy something we may or may not need.

When it comes to direct reading and critical thinking over an extended period of time, we seem to be moving further and further away from that as well. When was the last time you really sat down to enjoy a well-written novel of literary content?

Have you recently taken the time to read a quality storybook from an insightful writer? Also, when was the last time he read a book of poetry, be it a classic anthology or a more modern tome by a contemporary poet or collection of poets?

Consider poetry: It is concise writing intended to illuminate, entertain, and provoke deep thought. Poetry is meant to be read, then reread, then reread again. When done right, a poem can resonate with a person for years, something they turn to again and again for comfort, pleasure, insight, and inspiration.

It was the eminent poet Robert Frost (1874-1963) who said: “A poem begins with delight and ends with wisdom.” The beauty of words and word order lead to discovery, making poetry reading truly a worthwhile endeavor.

Here are five reasons why poetry is important:

We strengthen our reading, speaking and writing skills

First of all, reading good poetry rubs off on us, usually without us realizing it. Reading it makes us absorb the rhythms, cadences and nuances of words, phrases and sentences. The more we read quality poetry, the more we develop a graceful way with words, along with a storehouse of words.

This manifests itself in the quality of our own reading, speaking, and writing. The more we read fine poetry, the more skilled we become with the use of language.

We learn to see life through the eyes of others

Sometimes it’s good to have another perspective on a subject. Reading the ordered words of a poet allows us to enter his world. We learn to consider other points of view, opinions and arguments, while getting them into elegant writing. It is a way to experiment with different lines of thought, while at the same time enjoying creative work on its own merit.

We gain an appreciation of language and how it works

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) said: “Poetry is the rhythmic creation of beauty in words.” A poem, of course, reads differently than an article, story, or newspaper article. While such writing can flow and have a grace and beauty of its own, depending on its structure, a poem is different. Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, “Poetry: the best words in the best order.” A poem is truly that: a concise and precise way of presenting intellectual and sincere thought at its core.

We learn to take our time

Poetry, like all good literary writing, demands our attention. It requires that we sit down and spend time in the act of reading, and then in the act of meditating and reflecting on what we have just read. Again, it also calls for a rereading, so we’re sure to get the poem’s intended meaning more fully.

We don’t do quality writing justice when we treat it like the kind of “fast food” information we’re bombarded with every day. This is why poetry should be read in a quiet room, without distractions, in book form, words on paper that we can touch and feel as we read.

We awaken creativity within ourselves

Reading a poem can often inspire one to try writing one’s own. This starts the creative process where the individual begins to put their thoughts and feelings into words, organized logically. This creativity stimulates critical thinking and helps us better understand ourselves and the world around us as we explore a topic in depth.

A poem can also inspire one towards other creative endeavors. A person may not write a poem, but the poem he reads may inspire them to take up a craft, paint, choose a musical instrument, sculpt or take up photography or some other creative activity. Appreciating creative poetry can stimulate other great creative activities.

Make poetry reading a part of your life. It’s a relaxing respite from our often chaotic and rushed lifestyles. Set aside time each week in a quiet room, just you and that book of verse, formal or free, and enjoy. You’ll find yourself relaxing gracefully as the words, rhymes and meter, rhythm and flow of sentences combine to tell a story or highlight an aspect of life. Poetry makes us stop and think, and that can only contribute to our growth as reasoning individuals.

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