Why Read Poetry?

Poetry is something that dances rhythm of your heart, sings song of your soul, dreams dream of your subconscious. Anything that gives you joy, brings tears to your eyes, speaks hidden story of your heart, is poetry. When a baby stops crying as he sucks his mother's breasts, that's a poetry. When your dog stares at you sadly as you leave for your office, that's a poetry. Poetry is already there everywhere. Some smiles to you in day light, others hide themselves in shadow. Those which hide themselves in shadow, command you, to be light. So that, you find them in shadow. This is how poetry asks human to rise above his beastly impulses. Human can certainly live without poetry. But that life will be no better than mere fulfillment of beastly desires. It's poetry that makes human what human truly is. Human heart derives its beauty and fragrance from poetry. Can a flower be flower without beauty and fragrance? So is human. Human ascends to humanness with beauty and fragrance of poetry © Arun Maji Painting: Daniel Gerhertz