Mankind's Story Is Told In Poems Of Emotion

By Harriett Crosby


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.

Religions of the world have given us great poetry. From the Bible to Greek mythology, man's relation to the divine has been a part of his culture. The biblical Song of Moses, the Song of Solomon, and the psalms of David speak of awe, thanksgiving, petition, and praise for the God of Israel. Mythology told stories of the gods and their influence on and interaction with mankind.

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 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 - the only kind there are, actually - bring out the best of mankind or help us deal with the worst.




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