Hate Not Poetry

There are four genres of literature. Poetry is one of them. Although poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature, it is read less than other forms like essays and stories. I wonder why poetry is not read and enjoyed by nepali readers these days since the fascination towards it is degrading.

I see poetry everywhere from personal conversations to film and from dramas to novels. Everywhere poetry is used to highlight the context and make it worth reading. A novelist uses poetry to pull readers’ attention and a storywriter uses poetry to make readers sentimental and to arouse emotions and feelings. Even in revolutions and mass protests, poetry has been used when we study the political history of Nepal. Be it Gopal Prasad Rimal or Shrawan Mukarung, they have make poetry a crucial tool to prioritize serious concerns and issues.

No any form of literature can express our feelings in subtle way except that by poetry. Almost all poems are subjective in nature that’s why readers get bored at the very beginning. But those subjectivities are the acute representations of many people like the poet. Poetry broadens our imagination and makes us creative. I completely agree upon Wordsworth that poetry is spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and emotions recollected in tranquility.

Poetry is able to express events that are even restricted in a satirical way. I consider poets as the great source of human awareness. In Europe and America, night clubs are also jam-packed to take part in poetry recitation events whereas in Nepal, the matter is just opposite. New poets are discouraged. Poets express their dissatisfaction not to get space in newspapers and magazines here in Nepal.

There is a part of people in favour of poetry and next part who loathe it. Those who loathe have given names of insane to poets and those who favour have taken poetry as God’s messages too. Some poets have really idealized poetry saying poetry will not die and although poems are taken out of poetry, it will live somewhere else. There’s no need to abolish poetry. From Marquez to Abhi Subedi, all the prose writers have used poetry in their works.

Poetry provides them with comfort, a way to express themselves, and the discipline of finding the essence with few words. Poems have also been viewed as carriers of messages from the unconscious to the conscious mind. Wherever people gather to mark a moment, they speak from heart to heart, with poetry. Likewise it is one way to cope with recession. Experiencing poetry, either by reading it, listening to it, or writing it, can help people manage feelings of loss and despair.

Let’s all promote poetry once again in Nepal. Readers will find great underlying knowledge, culture, values and fun in poems. Poetry is also music. I express my sadness why few people are only reading poetry. I think missing poetry is like living in a world without music.