I think living up to those examples is unlikely. The poets of old had fewer distractions; therefore, probably an abundance of self-reflection. I think a part of it is over the last century, we’ve shifted from a culture of character to a culture of personality. We’re less involved with our emotions, hence the ubiquitous mental health issues, and instead engage more with others, albeit largely digitally. Still, our culture is too focused on status and affirmation to bother pondering and evaluating their character and searching for deep meanings in our behaviors, attitudes, and existence.
All of this shows in the literature published in the last two decades or more. It seems as if it has been a gradual decline, beginning, and I am guessing, around the 70s. Big question mark there. It probably started at the height of post-modernism. Whenever that was. I have no idea.
I had come across this poem when working on poetry memorization with my homeschool group and was moved by it. They memorized the Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which strikes a similar chord.
Thanks for posting this - I remember it - but it means more now.
What has happened to the poets who could communicate more in 32 lines than most people can in a book?
Or Walt Disney, who could get more romance out of a single kiss than the rest of Hollywood can get out of a bedroom scene.
Or my Algebra teacher who seemed to understand the young men - it was 20 years later that I visited his grave and realized he was a WWI veteran. I wouldn't have understood it when he was alive.
That is my favourite poem (as you can tell by the "u" in favourite, I'm Canadian). In Canada, when we study Literature, it's English lit, and so Kipling is introduced early. The first time I read it, it was actually read to me. I had one of those teachers that enjoyed reading stuff out loud to his classes. When he read that, I thought, "Wow, that's how poetry is supposed to be written." Down to the library where I found "Barrack-room Ballads and Departmental Ditties."
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Verse for Thought
Maudlin is good.
I think living up to those examples is unlikely. The poets of old had fewer distractions; therefore, probably an abundance of self-reflection. I think a part of it is over the last century, we’ve shifted from a culture of character to a culture of personality. We’re less involved with our emotions, hence the ubiquitous mental health issues, and instead engage more with others, albeit largely digitally. Still, our culture is too focused on status and affirmation to bother pondering and evaluating their character and searching for deep meanings in our behaviors, attitudes, and existence.
All of this shows in the literature published in the last two decades or more. It seems as if it has been a gradual decline, beginning, and I am guessing, around the 70s. Big question mark there. It probably started at the height of post-modernism. Whenever that was. I have no idea.
I had come across this poem when working on poetry memorization with my homeschool group and was moved by it. They memorized the Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which strikes a similar chord.
Thanks for posting this - I remember it - but it means more now.
What has happened to the poets who could communicate more in 32 lines than most people can in a book?
Or Walt Disney, who could get more romance out of a single kiss than the rest of Hollywood can get out of a bedroom scene.
Or my Algebra teacher who seemed to understand the young men - it was 20 years later that I visited his grave and realized he was a WWI veteran. I wouldn't have understood it when he was alive.
Can any of us live up to those examples?
Sorry for getting so maudlin.
That is my favourite poem (as you can tell by the "u" in favourite, I'm Canadian). In Canada, when we study Literature, it's English lit, and so Kipling is introduced early. The first time I read it, it was actually read to me. I had one of those teachers that enjoyed reading stuff out loud to his classes. When he read that, I thought, "Wow, that's how poetry is supposed to be written." Down to the library where I found "Barrack-room Ballads and Departmental Ditties."
‘If’ is such a good poem - love it.
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
Hi Corey! I wanted to send you a message about something. Is there a way I can reach you? Or, feel free to email me at becky.tuch@gmail.com. Thanks so much!