Emotion underlies all poetry, and there are poems of emotion about almost every major event in human history. From origin stories to tales of great victories and idealized accounts of love and bravery, every human race seems compelled to celebrate and define themselves in song, story, and pictures. Poetry takes elements from all these forms of expression and elevates them to another art form.
Religions of the world have given us great poetry. From the Bible to Greek mythology, man's relation to the divine has been a part of his culture. The biblical Song of Moses, the Song of Solomon, and the psalms of David speak of awe, thanksgiving, petition, and praise for the God of Israel. Mythology told stories of the gods and their influence on and interaction with mankind.
Epic poems were passed orally from one generation to the next. Many were eventually recorded in writing, but more were undoubtedly lost. All people groups have origin stories, tales of heroic deeds, and stories of extraordinary events from their past, and more often than not these are poetic in nature.
Poetry helps us by making great events or even fleeting things memorable. All of us know some poetry, no matter how hard we try to avoid the subject. Everyone knows that the words 'No man is an island' come from some poem or other; no one would try to pass that phrase off as original. 'To be or not to be' is another phrase that resonates down the ages, whether it is on stage or as a playground joke.
This memorable aspect of poetry helps us remember great events and people when dry history lessons have long been forgotten. Paul Revere's ride is a historic event, but the dramatic poem containing the immortal line 'One if by land and two if by sea' is probably what most of us think of first when his name is mentioned. We know he was 'booted and spurred and ready to ride' even if we can't remember the date of that action-filled night.
Poetic accounts of great, passionate love resonate with us because we all have our own love stories. New love, enduring love, and lost love are themes that echo down the ages. Although they are not new, poets seem to find a way to bring them into focus over and over in ways that surprise us with their impact and truth. 'How do I love you? Let me count the ways.' These simple words set a tone of intimacy that affects virtually everyone who lets them resonate in their heart and soul. The effect of poetry on us is amazing and undeniable.
For most of human history, man had leisure hours (maybe only because it was too dark or too inclement to work) and poetry helped to pass the time around the fire or on long journeys. Today much of that down time is occupied by television or the internet. Poetry is still being read and written, however, and hopefully it always will be. We need this affirmation and exposition of our emotional nature to be complete.
Human feelings give rise to poems of emotion, which in turn help people express and understand those feelings. Poetry stirs the heart, fires the imagination, and broadens the mind. It is an art form that requires inspiration, skill, and discipline, and the best examples of it attain immortality.
Religions of the world have given us great poetry. From the Bible to Greek mythology, man's relation to the divine has been a part of his culture. The biblical Song of Moses, the Song of Solomon, and the psalms of David speak of awe, thanksgiving, petition, and praise for the God of Israel. Mythology told stories of the gods and their influence on and interaction with mankind.
Epic poems were passed orally from one generation to the next. Many were eventually recorded in writing, but more were undoubtedly lost. All people groups have origin stories, tales of heroic deeds, and stories of extraordinary events from their past, and more often than not these are poetic in nature.
Poetry helps us by making great events or even fleeting things memorable. All of us know some poetry, no matter how hard we try to avoid the subject. Everyone knows that the words 'No man is an island' come from some poem or other; no one would try to pass that phrase off as original. 'To be or not to be' is another phrase that resonates down the ages, whether it is on stage or as a playground joke.
This memorable aspect of poetry helps us remember great events and people when dry history lessons have long been forgotten. Paul Revere's ride is a historic event, but the dramatic poem containing the immortal line 'One if by land and two if by sea' is probably what most of us think of first when his name is mentioned. We know he was 'booted and spurred and ready to ride' even if we can't remember the date of that action-filled night.
Poetic accounts of great, passionate love resonate with us because we all have our own love stories. New love, enduring love, and lost love are themes that echo down the ages. Although they are not new, poets seem to find a way to bring them into focus over and over in ways that surprise us with their impact and truth. 'How do I love you? Let me count the ways.' These simple words set a tone of intimacy that affects virtually everyone who lets them resonate in their heart and soul. The effect of poetry on us is amazing and undeniable.
For most of human history, man had leisure hours (maybe only because it was too dark or too inclement to work) and poetry helped to pass the time around the fire or on long journeys. Today much of that down time is occupied by television or the internet. Poetry is still being read and written, however, and hopefully it always will be. We need this affirmation and exposition of our emotional nature to be complete.
Human feelings give rise to poems of emotion, which in turn help people express and understand those feelings. Poetry stirs the heart, fires the imagination, and broadens the mind. It is an art form that requires inspiration, skill, and discipline, and the best examples of it attain immortality.
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