Let me read you some of my poetry. My poetry just takes me to

Listen closely to the words of Rick Fox: “Let me read you some of my poetry. My poetry just takes me to another level.” In these words, Fox speaks not just of the act of writing, but of the transformative power of poetry. Poetry, for him, is not a mere art or craft; it is a spiritual journey, a portal to another realm. To write, to read, and to live in poetry is to step into a higher state of awareness, to transcend the limitations of everyday life, and to connect with something deeper—whether it is the human soul, the universe, or the divine. Through poetry, Fox reaches a new plane of existence, one where the mundane is left behind and the profound takes center stage.

The ancients understood this profound truth about poetry. For Homer, the great poet of ancient Greece, the art of storytelling was not merely an occupation but a sacred act that connected him to the divine. The Muses, the goddesses of art and inspiration, were the ones who whispered into his ear, leading him to sing of the gods and the warriors of ancient Troy. In his epics, Homer does not simply recount events; he elevates them to a higher level, infusing the mortal world with the timeless and the eternal. His poetry takes the listener or reader into another world, a world where human actions are intertwined with the will of the gods, where love, honor, and death are elevated to cosmic struggles.

Similarly, consider the works of Rainer Maria Rilke, a poet whose verses reflect his deep connection with the divine and the spiritual realms. In his Duino Elegies, Rilke speaks of the struggle to live fully in a world that is often marked by suffering and doubt. Yet, in his poetry, he finds a way to transcend these limitations, to move beyond the mundane and into a realm of profound insight. Rilke’s poetry is not just about the external world—it is a conversation with the unseen, a reflection on existence itself. For him, poetry is the very means by which he ascends to a higher understanding of life, much like Fox’s assertion that his poetry takes him to another level.

Fox’s words resonate with these ancient and modern understandings of poetry as a path to transcendence. Poetry has the power to lift us, to move us beyond the boundaries of our physical and emotional limitations. Just as Homer and Rilke sought to elevate their art to a higher realm, so too does Fox recognize the transformative power of poetry in his own life. Through poetry, we are not just creating words on a page; we are tapping into something eternal, something universal, something that connects us to the deepest parts of our humanity.

This level Fox speaks of is not simply an intellectual one; it is a spiritual or emotional elevation. Consider the act of reading poetry aloud. When the words flow through your mouth, when you feel them resonate in your chest, something happens: you are transported, not just to another mental place, but to a space where emotion and meaning become one. A poet like Sylvia Plath understood this power—her poetry speaks to the darkest places of the soul, but it also brings light to those places, elevating the experience of suffering into art. In Plath’s poetry, we see the personal transformed into the universal, the private into the profound, much as Fox describes his own experience. Poetry doesn’t just communicate—it transports.

The lesson here is that poetry is not merely an intellectual pursuit, but a means of transcendence. Through poetry, we connect to something greater than ourselves. Whether it is the divine, the universal truths of existence, or the shared experience of humanity, poetry is the gateway to another realm. It elevates the poet, and the reader, to a place of greater understanding, a place where the individual self is united with something larger, more eternal. When you write poetry, you are not just crafting words; you are reaching for the stars, connecting your soul to something beyond the confines of time and space.

Practical actions follow. As a poet, seek to write not just for the sake of expression, but for the sake of transcendence. Let your words take you to another level—one that is higher, deeper, and more profound. Don’t settle for the surface; aim for the depths of the human soul. As a reader, approach poetry not just as a form of entertainment, but as a portal to a different realm. Read poetry aloud, feel its rhythm, its resonance, and allow it to take you to a place where you can see the world in a new light. Embrace the transformative power of poetry, and let it elevate you beyond the mundane.

Thus, Fox’s words remind us of the transformative power of poetry—its ability to take us to a higher plane, a realm of deeper understanding and connection. Whether through the personal voice of the poet or the universal truths that poetry reveals, it is an art that transcends the ordinary and invites us into the extraordinary. Let us all, as creators and readers of poetry, embrace this elevation and allow poetry to take us to that higher level.