Poetry, Then and Now
Poetry is
one of the oldest ways humans have tried to make sense of the world. Long before calendars, filing systems, or even paper, stories were shaped into rhythm and verse so they could be remembered and passed along.
One of the earliest known poems, Epic
of Gilgamesh, was written more than 4,000 years ago on clay tablets. It explored friendship, grief, fear of death, and the search for meaning...topics that still feel remarkably familiar today.
Poetry helped early civilizations preserve wisdom,
history, and emotion in a world without written records as we know them.
As time went on, poetry evolved but never disappeared. Think of The Odyssey, an epic tale of perseverance and homecoming; Sonnet 18, where Shakespeare captures love and time in just fourteen lines; or The Raven, which uses rhythm
and repetition to deepen its sense of mystery and loss.
Later came poems like Because I could not stop for Death, quietly thoughtful and deeply personal, and Still I Rise, bold, hopeful, and empowering. Different eras, different
voices. Yet all reflecting what it means to be human.
Today, poetry shows up in many forms. Haikus capture a moment in just a few carefully chosen words. Free verse lets thoughts flow without rules. Limericks bring humor. Spoken-word poetry adds voice and movement. Song lyrics blur the line between music and
verse.
Poetry no longer lives only in books. It lives wherever someone pauses long enough to put a feeling into words.
This month, challenge yourself to invite poetry into your life. Read a poem you’ve never read before. Revisit one you loved long ago. Or try writing a few lines of your own...no pressure, no rules, just creativity. You might be surprised what surfaces when you give your thoughts a little room to rhyme…or not rhyme at all.
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