Poetry Connection | The Power of Poetry

One question that I’m often asked is “Why poetry?” or “What does poetry contribute?” Last week’s typewriter poetry event helped me offer an answer. Simply put, poetry is the best friend you didn’t know you needed or have already had all your life. Poetry allows you to look at the same road, flower, person, or thing with new eyes in a unique way that’s all your own. Poetry offers a celebration of the everyday world, sometimes comfort for situations that seem difficult, such as a bittersweet final sendoff for a loved one or ways to heal from an injustice.

September’s 1st Thursday typewriter poetry event presented five poets typing up free poems, along with music provided by the local duo The Gruntled, Mark Zolezzi and Jesse Felix. Poets included two poets laureate, myself and Emma Trelles, as well as Steve Beisner, Diana Raab, and Simon Keiffer of the Typewriter Lending Library. We wrote love poems, tribute poems, haikus, and several poems for grandchildren. I had the pleasure of writing a poem for a recently born granddaughter. The young grandma was so proud about her daughter’s daughter that I have no doubt the folklore of the child’s first poem will be a story the girl will hear for the rest of her youthful life.

All of the poets agreed that the event exuded a therapeutic aspect. In fact, when I proposed the idea to the Downtown Organization in charge of 1st Thursday, I almost titled the event “Poetry Therapy.” I changed the title because I didn’t want to scare anyone away or have them feel as if they needed to lie on a therapist’s couch. Yet, many people received a nurturing, poetic hug that helped reveal what was, at the moment, most important to them.