To Dream About A Better World
To dream about a better world
And a more just society
Is often the stuff of budding writers
Particularly of poetry.
© Forrest W. Heaton. 4 February 2022
Do you sometimes find yourself dreaming or daydreaming about a better world, one perhaps without Coronavirus, one perhaps with a more just society, etc. You are less and less alone.
The National Endowment for the Arts has reported the share of adults reading poetry “grew by an astounding 76 percent between 2012 and 2017.” Further, they report “The results are even more dramatic for young people. The percentage of poetry readers age 18-24 doubled during that period.”
So, how about us? April 2022 is National Poetry Month in the USA! Why not “try our hand” at writing a poem or two during April and see how it goes? For those of you who have “tried your hand” previously, how ‘bout another go at it?
For those of our readers who might be interested in the possibility of a little extra cash earned from their writings, let us please highlight one current example, quoting a 15Sep18 Washington Post article: “Some of the most popular poets are now ‘social media poets,’ writers who distribute their work and connect with their vast, young audiences primarily online. Canadian poet Rupi Kaur has 3 million followers on Instagram, where she regularly posts images and short verses. Her first print collection, ‘Milk and Honey’ (2015), sold about 2 million copies, an unheard of blockbuster in a genre that usually considers a few thousand copies a success.”
Adding a last bit of encouragement for your poetry writing this April and beyond, we include a quote by Ellen Hinsey from her 2003 interview with Poetry Magazine: “Contrary to a generally held view, poetry is a very powerful tool because poetry is the conscience of a society . . . . No individual poem can stop a war—that’s what diplomacy is supposed to do. But poetry is an independent ambassador for conscience. It answers to no one, it crosses borders without a passport, and it speaks the truth. That’s why it is one of the most powerful of the arts.”