A case can be made that emotional stimulus is at the root of all poetry, and poems of emotion are all that there are. Whether the subject is life, physical love, spiritual connection with a deity or another human being, or war, people have always tried to immortalize events in words, both spoken or written.
The Bible is full of poetry, as are other books of religious instruction and inspiration. The creation story, with its reiteration of the evenings and the mornings of each succeeding day, sets the tone. The Song of Moses celebrates God's victory at the Red Sea. The Song of Solomon celebrates human love, both physical and spiritual, within the framework of God's p;ans and purposes. David cries out to the Lord in the psalms, which are full of heartfelt praise, repentance, thanksgiving, and promise.
Our literary heritage contains epic poems that were first delivered orally and later recorded. Undoubtedly many more existed but have been lost. Scholars are still trying to record ancient oral traditions from scattered races and tribes. The emotional content and people's connection to their past gives these tales great impact and meaning.
Poetry has an impact on those who hear or read it. Most of us know a few lines of poetry even if we are indifferent to it. 'No man is an island' needs no explanation. Neither does 'A rose by any other name...'. Hamlet's famous musing 'To be or not to be' is heard from center stage to the schoolyard everywhere English is spoken.
This is why poetry is part of education. We remember important events that have been made the subject of a famous poem, even if we forget dates and other pertinent data. When our emotions are stirred, we remember that Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War or that Paul Revere was an American patriot.
Love poems have special significance because almost everyone has his or her own love story. Poets have always known that new love, tragically unrequited love, enduring love, and even love between man and his best friend the dog make popular subjects. The best poetry brings love alive to its readers in a way that they may never have seen it before. The perfect expression of emotion is one of the poet's highest gifts to mankind.
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.
Poems of emotion echo our feelings and show us how to understand them. They comfort the sorrowful, speak to the lonely, inspire both young and old, and give tongue to joy and despair. Time spent in reading or writing poetry is never wasted.
The Bible is full of poetry, as are other books of religious instruction and inspiration. The creation story, with its reiteration of the evenings and the mornings of each succeeding day, sets the tone. The Song of Moses celebrates God's victory at the Red Sea. The Song of Solomon celebrates human love, both physical and spiritual, within the framework of God's p;ans and purposes. David cries out to the Lord in the psalms, which are full of heartfelt praise, repentance, thanksgiving, and promise.
Our literary heritage contains epic poems that were first delivered orally and later recorded. Undoubtedly many more existed but have been lost. Scholars are still trying to record ancient oral traditions from scattered races and tribes. The emotional content and people's connection to their past gives these tales great impact and meaning.
Poetry has an impact on those who hear or read it. Most of us know a few lines of poetry even if we are indifferent to it. 'No man is an island' needs no explanation. Neither does 'A rose by any other name...'. Hamlet's famous musing 'To be or not to be' is heard from center stage to the schoolyard everywhere English is spoken.
This is why poetry is part of education. We remember important events that have been made the subject of a famous poem, even if we forget dates and other pertinent data. When our emotions are stirred, we remember that Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War or that Paul Revere was an American patriot.
Love poems have special significance because almost everyone has his or her own love story. Poets have always known that new love, tragically unrequited love, enduring love, and even love between man and his best friend the dog make popular subjects. The best poetry brings love alive to its readers in a way that they may never have seen it before. The perfect expression of emotion is one of the poet's highest gifts to mankind.
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.
Poems of emotion echo our feelings and show us how to understand them. They comfort the sorrowful, speak to the lonely, inspire both young and old, and give tongue to joy and despair. Time spent in reading or writing poetry is never wasted.
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