How Poetry Resonates
Many people who watched the 2021 Presidential Inauguration were particularity moved by the poem written and read by Young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. A poet myself, I’ve often been asked why poetry is so moving. Here is what I usually say . . .
Poetry is the voice of the soul and heart, rather than the mind. When we write poetry, we free any thoughts that might have been bottled up inside. Poetry can be described as a snapshot written from the inside out. One of the many reasons why poetry is so powerful is that it offers insights into both the human psyche and human behavior. Poetry is also a place where the imagination can roam free.
Typically, a poem begins with an emotion, a feeling, or an image. Often, it shares a transformative moment or revelation, such as the poem by Amanda Gorman. Much of the impact of a poem comes from its delivery, and not only was Gorman’s poem powerful, but her delivery was spectacular. It’s not surprising to hear that she’d studied Winston Churchill’s speeches, and that certainly served her well.
Feelings, images, or ideas described in a poetic form are usually succinct, vivid, and intense. William Wordsworth defined poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility. . . .”
