Defense of Poetry
As Pam Allyn states, in her article “Why Poetry Matters,” “poetry [is] a way to document the world and our common experiences, to say what needs to be said in a direct, powerful and beautiful way.” Simply put, poetry is valuable. Poetry is valuable to individuals and to societies, no matter culture, age, sex, or race. Poetry allows us to express our truest selves and ideas. Even back in the 7th century BC, Sappho (examined in this anthology) expressed her belief that love is more beautiful than soldiers, in her “Fragment 16” poem, contradicting the values of her society. The Greeks were a war-focused nation and, in a time when the voice of women was inaudible, Sappho was able to express her truest and most honest beliefs through her poetry. In voicing her opinion in a bold, eloquent and artistic form, she broke out of the bondage that prevented her truest self from emerging in society, to reveal a level of thinking that was not published by women of the time. In her poem, Sappho reveals a level of true self and idea, in a way that allowed her to express this. Langston Hughes “spoke in a troubled time in a clear and direct way,” as quoted by Allyn, which corresponds to the poetry of this anthology. Much of the value of poetry comes in the way that it allows authors to speak their solutions to and views on issues facing society and themselves, in a clear, calm, concise and appealing manner. In her poem “Ariel,” Sylvia Plath discusses the way that women feel trapped in the female body, as she is defined by her sexuality, and thus has no freedom to create her own definition of self. Even in 1965, Plath discusses the negative effects of patriarchal society on women, especially concerning herself, yet expresses these intense impressions in a symbolic, eloquent and sophisticated manner. In this clear and colorful poem, Plath is able to communicate a strong, controversial (to some) opinion without expressing immediate anger on the surface. This makes it more appealing and communicable to larger audiences, helping to spread her message. Poetry is communal and inspires action. In their article “Battle Lines,” Robyn Creswell and Bernard Haykel discuss the importance of poetry in jihadist culture. They examine the deep theological connection and its role in motivating people and inspiring action, being central to the movement. Jihadists find the poetry to be something communal, something that binds them together in a common movement and group, fighting for the same goals. This communal feeling is something that is of central importance to the human spirit, as we often strive to surround ourselves with social groups and feel like we are an important part of something larger than ourselves. The feeling of community that is so important to jihadists is similar to that which many poems evoke. It is similar to that of the message “Strength,” in this anthology, communicates. Through the use of phrases and words such as “Anonymous was a woman,” “may we…” the poem evokes a sense of community amongst women and this common feeling of feminism and feminine power in initiating positive change. This communal effect inspires action, as we feel that we have a role to play for the group we are a part of, which is one of many very powerful effects of poetry. Overall, poetry has the incredible ability of inspiring countless numbers of individuals and evoking powerful change in individual thought and society, through its vivid imagery, metaphoric constituents and human elements. Simply put, poetry is valuable to people and society.