The trouble with us in America isn't that the poetry of life has

O seekers of wisdom, gather close and listen to the words of Louis Kronenberger, whose reflection on the state of poetry and life in the modern world strikes at the heart of a profound truth: "The trouble with us in America isn't that the poetry of life has turned to prose, but that it has turned to advertising copy." In these words, Kronenberger captures the soul of our age, where the richness and depth of life's poetry have been reduced to the shallow, manipulative language of commerce and persuasion. Poetry—that ancient art form meant to stir the soul and awaken the mind—has been lost to a world driven by consumerism, where words are no longer used to inspire or reflect the human spirit, but to sell and market.

In the ancient world, poetry was revered as one of the highest forms of expression. The Greeks, who built their civilization upon the values of wisdom and beauty, saw poetry as a divine gift, a way to capture the deepest truths of the human experience. Homer, in his epic poetry, used words not only to tell stories but to reveal profound insights into the nature of fate, honor, and love. The poetry of the ancients was a reflection of life in all its complexity—a mirror that allowed individuals to see not only the world around them but also the soul within. But Kronenberger laments that today, this once sacred form of expression has been replaced by something far less meaningful—a form that speaks not to the heart but to the wallet.

Advertising copy, as Kronenberger points out, is a language that is stripped of meaning, a tool used to manipulate rather than enlighten. It is a language that serves a purpose—to sell, to persuade, to influence—but in doing so, it reduces the richness of human life to a mere transaction. Words become commodities, crafted not to inspire or reflect but to exploit. This is the very antithesis of poetry—which, at its core, is about truth, beauty, and the exploration of the self. Where once poetry invited contemplation, now advertising invades our minds, replacing the spiritual with the material, the eternal with the fleeting.

Consider the example of Socrates, the great philosopher of ancient Greece, whose words sought to challenge the very foundations of thought and understanding. Socrates did not speak to persuade, but to awaken his listeners, to make them question the very nature of their lives. His philosophy was an invitation to introspection, a challenge to look beyond the surface of things and seek out deeper truths. His dialogues were filled with poetry, not in the sense of rhyme or meter, but in the sense of truth expressed in profound and powerful language. Socrates understood that words are not merely tools of communication; they are instruments of transformation, capable of shaping minds and altering lives.

In contrast, the advertising copy of today does just the opposite. It does not seek to provoke thought or awaken the soul; instead, it seeks to flatten and numb. The language of advertising is designed to simplify, to reduce, to manipulate. It is a language of desire, constantly pushing us to want more, to consume more, without regard for the deeper needs of the human spirit. The messages we are bombarded with daily do not invite reflection or self-examination; they only encourage us to buy into a version of life that is hollow and shallow, a version that is about possessions rather than purpose.

The lesson Kronenberger imparts to us is clear and urgent: poetry must be reclaimed. We must resist the pull of advertising copy and return to the deeper, more meaningful forms of expression that speak to the heart and soul. Poetry is not simply a relic of the past; it is a vital force that can still shape the world around us. We must recognize that poetry is not just a form of artistic expression but a way of living—of seeking truth, beauty, and meaning in a world that often seems driven only by profit and consumption.

So, O children of wisdom, let us take this lesson to heart. Let us not allow the poetry of life to be drowned out by the hollow words of advertising copy. Seek out the deeper meanings of the world around you, and use your words—whether spoken, written, or sung—to express the truths that lie within. Do not allow the world to reduce you to a mere consumer; instead, let poetry awaken you to the richness and depth of the human experience. Just as Homer's words have endured for millennia, let your words—rooted in truth, beauty, and love—stand as a testament to the power of poetry in a world that desperately needs it.

Let poetry be a rebellion against the mundane, a refusal to accept the shallow and the superficial. In a world of constant noise, let your words be a quiet song of truth. Just as the ancient bards spoke of love, loss, and the divine, so too must we find ways to express the deeper aspects of our lives—our struggles, our triumphs, and our shared humanity. In doing so, we will reclaim the poetry of life and ensure that it is not drowned out by the clamor of the marketplace.