Poetry Is A Form of Revolution

Poetry is the language of our time. It is a verbal excavation, digging us into and under that which is inarticulate, that which cannot be said but can be felt, that which cannot be stated but can be conjured. Poetry is a form of revolution. It arranges our thinking, our perception, our dialogue. It takes us out of the literal so that we can see what is real.”     Eve EnslerHow do you open your heart, feed your soul, and challenge your mind in a matter of minutes? What can break up the concrete of our habitual perception and turn our trusty assumptions on their head?A poem.In this program we explore the relationship between the poetic form, language, and truth, and celebrate the power of poetry to subvert conventional assumptions and dogmas. I read some of the poems that are moving me right now, including:Poetry by Pablo NerudaKing of the River by Stanley KunitzSplit the Sack by Rumi (trans by Coleman Barks)Kindness by Naomi Shihab NyeAnnunciation by Marie HoweAgainst Certainty by Jane HirshfieldMeditation at Lagunitas by Robert HaasSupport the show