In 2019, I transitioned my writing career to poetry and contemporary nonfiction. This past month, I have resumed writing song lyrics.
My mother, who was an Honors AP English teacher, taught from the heart. She believed in the authors and poets that she assigned her students. She encouraged her students to think and explore. One of her favorite movies was Dead Poets Society which seems appropriate.
In the movie, Robin Williams says in a scene, “we read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. The human race is filled with passion. Poetry, beauty, romance, and love is what we stay alive for.”
For many individuals, poetry is viewed as something you had to read in high school or college English class. During these classes, often students were instructed to break apart the poem measure it against some mathematical program to determine its value.
Passion, beauty, and love should never be measured with an app, digital program, or calculator. Poetry is our lighthouse to guide our way, to give perspective, to give us a home, and most importantly reassure us we’re not alone.
For National Poetry Day – I encourage you to purchase a poetry book and support the art of words.
