Why is poetry important?
Poetry remains the artform that is both so central to our identities (mixed and mutual) and, at its best, at the same time, endlessly disconcerting. People like things to be easy. I understand this. A long day at work, kids to care for, there is too much weight on everything – the last thing someone wants is to be challenged when the day itself is a challenge. Poetry is not about comfort and positive reinforcement; it is not about making you feel better and telling you what you already know. That’s doggerel. Poetry requires effort. That sounds terrible, doesn’t it? I’m surprised anyone is interested at all. But they are. I have met them. Lovely folks, for the most part. Alive is what I’d call them.
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