Why read poetry?

So why read poetry at all?

In addition to the myriad reasons for reading anything for pleasure, poetry has one obvious trait in it's favour. It's short.*

You can get the same emotional punch — a sudden recognition of yourself or the world, a loud laugh, an insight into the human condition — in a fraction of the time it takes to trek across Middle-earth or discover Darcy's a pretty nice guy after all. If you don't like the poem, you've hardly wasted any time. If you did like it, you can read it again straight away. Poetry is good for your emotional health.

Poetry slows you down. I've never heard of anyone advocating the speed reading of poetry, although that technique can work well for non-fiction and even some fiction. You have to sit still and breathe (cup of tea optional) or you'll miss it. Poetry is good for your physical health.

Because of the positioning of the words on the page, less common words and creative grammar, you are forced to pay attention to their meaning. You might come across terminology, ideas and eventually you'll start to notice new beats and rhythms you haven't come across before. Poetry is good for your mental health.

See, it's a cure-all; you'll be more relaxed, centered and intelligent if you read poetry. How can you afford not to?


*I reserve the right to make gross assumptions. Most poems are shorter than most novels. Unless you decide to start with something epic.