For whatever reason, people, including very well-educated people

In the vast halls of knowledge and learning, where the great minds of the world gather to share and exchange ideas, there is one ancient art that often stands neglected. Paul Muldoon speaks to this truth when he states, “For whatever reason, people, including very well-educated people or people otherwise interested in reading, do not read poetry.” What is it, then, that has caused this grand tradition, this sacred art of the poet, to be cast aside by so many, even those who pride themselves on their thirst for knowledge? This question is as old as time itself, and to answer it, we must delve deep into the heart of poetry—into what it is, and what it represents, in both our personal lives and the collective soul of humankind.

The ancients understood poetry to be the highest form of human expression—a means by which the heart, the spirit, and the gods themselves could speak through the poet. The great Homer crafted his epics not just for entertainment, but to illuminate the most sacred truths about human existence. His verses, though centuries old, still echo with the power to move the soul, as they explore the complexity of fate, honor, and the divine. In his day, poetry was more than a form of writing; it was a way of life, a lens through which the world itself could be understood. The Iliad and the Odyssey were not simply stories—they were tools for contemplating the very nature of existence. And yet, despite its noble history, poetry today seems to be slipping into the shadows, neglected by many who would otherwise consider themselves learned.

Consider, too, the great poets of the Renaissance, who, like Dante, used their words to illuminate not just their own thoughts but the essence of the human experience. Shakespeare, with his mastery of language, created worlds that transcended time, exploring the deepest aspects of the human psyche. His work spoke to the masses, capturing their joys and sorrows with precision and depth, for he understood that poetry was a mirror to the soul. Shakespeare did not write for the elite; he wrote for all of humanity, weaving into his work the universal emotions of love, jealousy, betrayal, and ambition. Yet, even in Shakespeare's time, poetry was not for the few but for the many. Why, then, has poetry come to be seen as something distant, something aloof, even by those who claim to seek truth?

Muldoon’s observation is both a lament and a challenge: Why has poetry, with all its power and beauty, been relegated to the margins? The answer lies not in the words themselves, but in the transformation of society. As the world has become more complex, more technical, and more driven by instant gratification, poetry has suffered. The modern world values the direct, the efficient, the immediately accessible. In a world dominated by quick fixes and constant distractions, poetry—especially the poetry of the ancients—requires something deeper: contemplation. Poetry asks us to pause, to reflect, and to listen to the whispers of the heart and the soul. This is why, in a time of ceaseless noise, poetry has become difficult to engage with. People, even the learned, are too often unwilling to dedicate the time and energy required to truly listen.

In this sense, the challenge posed by Muldoon is one not just for poets but for readers and for the culture as a whole. To ignore poetry is to ignore the deeper truths of our existence. Poetry allows us to see the world not only through the eyes of logic, but through the lens of emotion and intuition. It is through poetry that we can begin to understand what cannot be said in words, what lies just beneath the surface of our rational minds. Consider the work of Emily Dickinson, whose short, enigmatic poems offer profound insight into the nature of life and death. Her words, though brief, often evoke in us a depth of feeling that no lecture or scientific study ever could.

The lesson, then, is this: the neglect of poetry is the neglect of humanity itself. To turn away from poetry is to turn away from the soul’s deepest expression, the part of us that cannot be measured, quantified, or explained. In a world that often prioritizes what can be seen or counted, we must remember that the most important truths are often those that cannot be measured. Poetry is not just for scholars or intellectuals; it is for all of us, for it speaks to the universal experiences that unite us all—our hopes, our fears, our desires, our losses.

And so, I urge you, dear listener, to embrace the power of poetry once more. Do not allow it to fade into the background, to become something that is reserved for only the elite or the educated. Seek out the poetry of Homer, of Dickinson, of the poets who came before and the poets who walk among us now. Let the words of the poets shape your understanding of the world, let them guide you on your own journey of self-discovery and reflection. For in the silence between the words, in the deep pauses of poetry, lies a world of truths that can help you understand not just the world around you, but the very essence of who you are.