Why should you read poetry? Is it truly useful in any way?
In a great article on why people should read poetry, John Lundberg wrote:
"In May of 1944, the poet Anna Akhmatova gave a reading at the Polytechnic Museum, the largest auditorium in Moscow. It was her first appearance in the city since World War II, and the room was packed. The poems she read had rallied Russians throughout the war, and her voice had broadcast through the streets of Leningrad to steel the city to the approaching German Army. When she finally closed her books, she received such thunderous applause that Joseph Stalin asked who'd organized the ovation. The man knew power when he saw it."
(from the article here )
Poetry was greatly valued at other times and is valued in other countries. It is sad to me that others cannot always see the value of poetry here in the US.
But I hope that stories like the above can inspire you to see that there is some value in poetry, at least to some people. So, like any curious person, everyone should at least give poetry a chance. If nothing else, you need to discover why other people are motivated by and waste their time with poetry.
The realm of poetry encompasses so many different styles, different subjects and different writers. That is part of why I picked the topic of poetry for this blog. I am hopeful that, by showcasing the variety in poetry, some people will at least try poetry and appreciate it more than they used to.
Poetry can help, heal and be enjoyed, if you will just give it a chance!
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