Why Poetry and Writing Matter, Yet Again
From Sam Hamill’s editorial on the Poets Against War web site:
“One thing we as poets can do is build stronger intercultural bridges. The better we know and talk with one another, locally and internationally, the more difficult misunderstanding becomes. Poetry is an important bridge. Our poetry absolutely blossomed in the last century, in a very large part thanks to the influence of poetry from all over the world. That cross-pollination is essential to us and to our allied poets abroad. We need to know what every “they" have to say. We need to reaffirm ancient values and the practice of compassion. We need to remind people lost in materialist culture that, yes, poetry matters—just as it always has. Maybe even more, because it crosses boundaries more efficiently than ever before. And the real subject of poetry is character."
Hamill also writes:
“Success? Success is one man laying down the gun. Success is one human being finding one breath of insight or solace or compassion through a poem. Success is a way of life, not a product...Tides begin to change one drop of water at a time."
