WHY POETRY, TODAY?

 “The cultivation of poetry is never more to be desired than at periods when, from an excess of the selfish and calculating principle, the accumulation of the materials of external life exceed the quantity of the power of assimilating them to the internal laws of human nature. The body has then become too unwidely for that which animates it.” (Percy Bysshe Shelley) 

With a sadly clear-eyed view, we observe how, in recent years, the forces of disillusionment, utilitarianism, materialism and dehumanisation have been raging more ruthlessly and disruptively than ever before.  We therefore ask ourselves what is the point of writing or reading poetry today. 

It is no coincidence that many of my poet friends call on poetry to take a stand against the injustices of the world: a noble aim, imbued with an ethical and humanitarian spirit. On the other hand, I do not believe that purely civic or ‘engagé’ poetry will be enough to turn the tide of a degraded society. The risk is that it will be exploited and bent to the will of some parasitic ideological current which will ultimately fuel further forms of hatred and division. 

In my view, poetry operates at a more fundamental level, preceding politics and ethics, in tandem with true philosophy, to shape the mental framework of every person worthy of the name. A lawmaker or a governor educated in the principles of beauty and goodness is unlikely to enact the disgraceful array of irrational and freedom-destroying measures that we see – and have seen – proliferating in recent times. 

Furthermore – and this is the essential point of the humanities – poetry, literature and art can broaden our perception and predispose us to empathy and compassion. They cultivate those aesthetic, cognitive and emotional faculties that help us rediscover meaning, beauty and truth in our lives. 

By reclaiming our attention and becoming aware of the power of language in this way, we will be less susceptible to manipulation – whether by the media or on a personal level.  Finally, by recognising and fostering beauty and goodness in our world, we will inevitably create a more liveable and peaceful atmosphere for this planet and for those we love.

For information on upcoming courses, please contact me via my website or by email at binisara@gmail.com