Why Poetry Matters

[sleigh]

Here's an interesting article on why poetry still matters even in today's world.

Discuss, please.

Comments

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

I do understand that studying the analytics can kill enthusiasm for poetry. That's the 'music theory' of poetry: if you're a poet, it really helps to know all that stuff, but a reader of poetry doesn't necessarily need to have it all. I do teach some of the underlying 'theory' when I teach poetry in the Intro To Creative Writing classes and the Intro to Lit classes, but hopefully there's enough 'play' along with it. It is something I continue to worry about as a teacher.

I do use music (including rap -- though I usually use Blackalicious -- with the contention that lyrics are poetry. Poetry, to me, is a form that almost demands 'sound': being read aloud, or being put to music.