The Quiet Power of Poetry

Poetry A Voice That Lives Through Time

When I think back to the days when I was an undergraduate student in college, I am amazed at how I dismissed poetry as boring and unimportant. At this late stage, I have returned to value and enjoy poetry as never before. This essay is submitted to show my deep appreciation of verse.

Following is a quote from a biography about the great Medieval Jewish scholar, Moses Maimonides, about a father who is learned in Torah and Talmud, mourning the passing of his daughter. The father quotes from the biblical verse Song 2:14:

"Oh my dove, in the cranny of the rocks, hidden by the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is comely."

The verse conveys the depth of the father's loss of his daughter. Those few words are powerful and emotional.

The history of poems, also known as verse, parallels humanity. Even before people wrote things down, they spoke in rhythms and sang words that carried meaning. It is one of the oldest ways we have of expressing ourselves. Poetry continues to resonate with humanity. But why is that?

Poetry's language touches the heart. It does not explain everything. It lets us feel things. It helps us understand what someone is saying and feeling inside. It offers expression beyond typical language. For example, poetry has a way of putting feelings into simple but powerful words, such as losing someone they love, falling in love, or feeling alone, hopeful, or afraid.

Unlike regular writing, poetry often says a lot with very few words. That is part of its beauty. Poems needn't narrate extensively; they evoke reflection, tears, or smiles. Only a few words, perhaps lines, are necessary to elicit a response. The poet has reached into their heart and shared it with the reader. One good example is a short poem by Emily Dickinson. She wrote:

I'm nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody, too?

People have turned to poetry in every part of life. Poetry persists through war and peace, birth and death, joy and sorrow. It brings comfort. It brings courage. It reminds us that others have felt what we are feeling now. It connects us.

Another simple but moving poem comes from Langston Hughes, who wrote often about dreams and struggles. He wrote,

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

In just four lines, he gives a clear and powerful message. Without dreams, life loses its spirit. It reminds us not to give up, even when things are hard.

Another short verse comes from William Carlos Williams, who wrote a poem that reads like a note left on the kitchen table:

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

Poems speak a kind of truth that is deeper than facts. It does not need to explain everything. It lets us see things in a new light. A tree is no longer just a tree. More than just a space rock, the moon exists. One captured moment feels timeless, a poem's power. Through poetry, even ordinary things can seem full of wonder.

They also last through the centuries because they belong to everyone. You do not need to be rich or famous to write it. Formal education isn't required. The authors of poems span all backgrounds. Some wrote them on paper, some spoke out loud, and some passed them from generation to generation. And each poem carries a real person's voice, trying to understand life.

Poetry's enduring appeal stems from its human nature. It helps us remember that we are not alone in our feelings. It reminds us of beauty, even when life is hard. It lifts us when we are low. It preserves cultural identity across generations.

So poetry endures, not because it gives answers, but because it makes us feel less alone with our questions. It lets us feel seen and heard. Everyone desires this above all else.

Humans have long engaged with poetry. Even before people wrote things down, they spoke in rhythms and sang words that carried meaning. It is one of the oldest ways we have of expressing ourselves. Today, poetry resonates with people from different times, places, and cultures. But why is that?

Poetry speaks directly to the heart. It does not explain everything. It lets us feel things. It helps us understand what someone is saying and feeling inside. It offers expression beyond typical language.

Unlike regular writing, poetry often says a lot with very few words. That is part of its beauty. Brief poems can powerfully move readers to thought, tears, or joy. A few lines, perhaps words, trigger an inner response. The poet has reached into their heart and handed you a piece.