The Power of Poetry

Poetry has a power to uplift the ordinary human mind to a vision of a more fulfilling and creative reality. It is a mistake to only consider poetry with the judgement of a critical mind. The best poetry has the power to makes us aware of a consciousness beyond the written word.

“No other divine faculty has the greater power of transcendence over limits to the illimitable.”

- Sri Chinmoy [1]

Poetry and Identification

Poetry is not just something to be read. When we read poetry, we can quite often feel that the poem expresses our own deepest yearning and highest experience. The achievement of the poet becomes ours. To achieve this we need to be receptive; when reading poems we should be ready to feel a oneness with the poetry and the experiences of the poet.

Poetry does not argue but Illumines.

When reading prose we often feel the writer is attempting to explain an idea or concept. Poetry, on the other hand, has no need to explain or discuss; good poetry merely expresses an inner reality. The power of the words brings a certain consciousness to the fore; one can feel in the presence of an idea with no scope for doubt or limitation.

“My eternal days are found in speeding time;

I play upon His Flute of rhapsody.

Impossible deeds no more impossible seem;

In birth chains now shines Immortality.”

- Sri Chinmoy [3]

Poetry and Meaning

Poetry is the start of a journey. Poetry engages the reader to think for himself. Poetry entices us out of a limited viewpoint. One poem can be a vista for us to dive deep within. Two readers may take very different things from a poem, but in its purest form poetry takes us beyond the written word. A reader seeks to discover the inner meaning of a poem.

Expression of Beauty.

Poetry seeks to achieve the impossible; to describe the beauty and infinity of nature. Usually we are at a loss to adequately explain or capture the mystery of nature; but, our greatest poets have been able to use the poetic medium to elucidate in words the pristine beauty and eternity of nature.

“The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:”

- William Wordsworth [4]

Joy of Poetry

Poetry can bring to the fore a real sense of joy. We may not understand why, but some poems embody the inner delight of the poet.

“’T is so much joy! ’T is so much joy!

If I should fail, what poverty!”

- Emily Dickinson [2]

Poetry and Oneness

The Seer Poets redefine the concept of ourselves, they suggest that men are not individual entities, in fact, there is an underlying unity of creation. Through their identification with the universal consciousness, poets express this illuming ideal. Walt Whitman was a powerful exponent of this universal self. In "Song of Myself" he celebrates, not his individual ego, but his universal self.

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. "

- Walt Whitman