Poetry is one of the oldest forms of art. Poetry has been an integral part of every art movement since its introduction. Poetry is a means to talk about our social, economic, and political developments. Poetry is more than just a form of art, it allows expression in ways no other art form can. Through poetry, we can speak about our problems and how we can better society. Poetry has a lot of benefits, and we will be looking at some of them in this article.
Firstly, poetry reading improves critical thinking. Most poems are not direct, and a reader has to think hard to decipher the meanings of verses because they are not one dimensional. One poem could be trying to pass different messages along, and trying to figure out what these messages are is part of enjoying this art. When you are a constant reader of poetry, you will be in a better position to analyze scenarios for bias and different viewpoints than a non-reader. The skills gained in poetry reading are not only beneficial to students but also people at the workplace or in different life situations. Critical thinking is vital in decision making because one has to analyze how scenarios pan out after making certain decisions. Just like poetry, decision making is not one-dimensional.
Secondly, poetry reading improves one’s verbal skills and memory. Words used in poetry are not general, and as such, you get to enlarge your vocabulary through poetry reading. In poetry, a pause can change the meaning of a statement. Through poetry reading and analyzing, you get to learn this, which is crucial in communicating with others. You also improve your memory because one is required to memorize a poem before reading because reading directly from a book will not bring out the emotion that poetry commands. Studies over the years show that people who memorize poems often less likely to develop memory illnesses such as Alzheimer’s in their old age.
Thirdly, poetry reading will open you up to other art forms. When you learn to appreciate art, understanding other art forms such as paintings will come easier. To appreciate different art forms, you have to have emotional awareness and be able to think critically because nothing is as simple as it seems in art. To connect with a painting, you have to put yourself in the shoes of the painter, and poetry teaches you how to do this.
Finally, poetry reading is essential because it helps create empathy and insight. Poets put a lot of emotion in writing their pieces. You get to understand these emotions when you internalize a poem. You may not understand how the times were during the war, but you get to when you read a poem written by a person from the time. Poetry reading is a way to unite people despite their differences. By reading poems from other times and other cultures, you become more understanding of the things they did or are doing. Poetry reading can change society if more people are willing to participate.