samedi 21 décembre 2013

Poems Of Emotion Tell Our History

By Harriett Crosby


Mankind has a long history of expressing the deepest feelings in poems of emotion, either orally or in writing. From national events like war to intimate moments of physical or spiritual love, poetic expression seems to help people give an account, understand events, remember joys and horrors, and reveal ideas and feelings. In fact, without relating an emotional response to the human condition, words do not make poetry.

Some of the earliest poetry is found in the Bible and other religious books. The Song of Moses celebrates God's deliverance at the Red Sea. The song of Solomon is a paean to human love that is full of spiritual symbolism. David and others wrote the Psalms as cries to the Lord, whether pleas for help or hymns of thanksgiving.

Oral traditions brings us epics about heroes and victories. Many of them have been preserved in writing, but undoubtedly others are lost forever. The origin stories of most races are poetic in nature. It is the emotional overtone to tradition that keeps it alive in our memories, while dry history lessons may be quickly forgotten.

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 one reason that poetry is so educational. It helps us remember great events, like Paul Revere's ride to warn the American colonists of the British advance. 'One if by land or two if by sea' rings in our ears long after the dates of the event have faded from our memories. We relate to stirring events when our emotions are stirred by the skillful phrasing of a poet.

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.

In the days before television, people had more time to spend on poetry. Now surfing the web and watching favorite television serials take up the evening hours. However, people are still writing poetry and reading it for enlightenment and enjoyment. It is an important part of our culture and can enrich life if we make time for it.

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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