Here we arrive at the conclusion of reflections drawn from the film, “Dead Poets Society.” The study and appreciation of poetry transpired, and boys prospered into men. The growth of the soul took place with each turn of a page. As lessons were taught, lives were changed. The importance of poetry took many years, for me, to grasp onto and value. I went through school learning the styles and rules, but it was not until I had it taught word by word and verse by verse. There is more to poetry than haikus and free verse. Literature is rich with poetry, and the messages engraved in the foundation build stepping stones to a great understanding. My first time truly experiencing poetry on an intellectual level broadened my perspectives. Instead of reading poems, I began dissecting poems. This experience served a two-fold purpose. Not only did I study poetry with a keen eye, I coupled this learning with an introduction to William Shakespeare. This pairing challenged me to think differently, read differently, and write differently. My exposure to poetry through Shakespeare provided me the chance to mature in the literature I would have missed otherwise. Some of Shakespeare’s sonnets offer insights to matters of finding love and creating happiness, while others dive into the depths of death. His poems display a sense of meaning in confusion and understanding of the unknown. As humans, we thrive on greatness. This greatness takes on personal definitions for various areas of life, but greatness in literature is relatively set. Poetry matters to life because of the lasting impacts it places on the heart. It opens up a new realm to times of long ago and tells of romances of lovers. Poetry is left up to the interpretations of the mind and only limited by the imagination. Other areas of life, like law and medicine, are established by pre-existing guidelines dictating protocol, but poetry is fluid with endless possibilities. It is impossible to restrict poetry to a cozy little box, when it is intended to force us to think outside of the box. We have different lenses to look through as we go about living for our days, and lenses could be the very things that provide us with an impactful perspective to change our life course. Although times have changed, literature is the one that has remained constant. Words written centuries ago are still being read today, and people who were silenced by death continue to leave a legacy. It peaks my interest and amazes me when my reality collides and connects with the lessons of literature. There is so much to see, and by diving wholeheartedly into the vault of time’s greatest writers, I can see more; I can learn more. The words I read were written with purpose. Someone had the desire to tell a story, to share a message, and we, as readers, must honor the precious time it took to perfectly construct the art of literature. If we are willing to search, the lessons of life will be found by and through the power of poetry. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016 SONNET 18 SONNET 116
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