Life existsI'd been thinking for a while of writing about poetry and its place and why it touches me so deeply - wanting to help others be so profoundly touched. I was watching "Dead Poet's Society" last night, and I was so struck by the following lines on so many levels that I want to write it down for myself and my readers.
and identity.
The powerful play of life goes on, and YOU may contribute a verse.
We do not read and write poetry because it is cute.“O me, O life of the questions
We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion
Medicine, law, business, engineering; these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love; these are what we stay alive for.
To quote from Whitman:
Of these recurring.
Of the endless trains of the faithless.
Of cities filled with the foolish
What good amid these,
O me, O life?”
Answer:"That you are here.
That life exists
And identity.
That the powerful play
Goes on,
And you may contribute
A verse."
"That the powerful play goes on, and YOU may contribute a verse."
What will your verse be?
Walt Whitman 1819-1892
Dead Poet's Society (1989) written by Tom Schulman; directedy by Peter Weir
1 comment:
I know it's terribly trite that these words come to me by way of a recent commercial, but I'm so inspired by these words as well! I was doing a google search to find the original poem and came across your post. As a teacher, I'm trying to live the writer's life as well, as authentically as possible, (which is sad, because I was an English major and loved to write in college, but can't find the time to do it with the "juggle" today as a working mom!) But these words of Walt's have been knocking around in my brain for the last few days and I'm ready to crack a new notebook and go! Thanks for sharing!
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