Saturday, February 4, 2017

Rebirth

The poem - yes, the lowly, forgotten poem - once a mainstay of commutation, way back in antiquity, because it was a form that allowed messengers to memorize thoughts and words by verse and meter, and memorize through rhyme and rhythm so early man could discount both time and distance when messages were sent between far flung villages. "Heaven t' Betsy" present day captains of communication have found poetry as an excellent means to convey a message.

Check out some of the latest TV advertisements and see if the poetry pleases you : one's by Walt Whitman, "The Song of the Open Road" ; another by Dylan Thomas, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night". Recently I found another one but, being that I'm unfamiliar with both the poet and the poem, I can't say anything about it.

Maybe the romanticism with Poetry will escape from the public's psyche and flow through their intellect instead. Combining words into thoughts which moves people to act is the intent of the advertiser and, finally, they've hit upon a new catalyst, the poem. I only hope they continue their dependence on this form of dialog.

Ronald C. Downie

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