I never understood poetry when I was in school. It wasn’t until I had children and discovered Shel Silverstein that the importance of words scripted in poetry opened a door. I must have read aloud to them Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” a hundred times. Poetry is a powerful force, in the best of ways. Joseph Brodsky’s incredible quotation is a testament to that. Thank you M.C. Tuggle for bringing Brodsky’s quotation to your readers.
“By failing to read or listen to poets, society dooms itself to inferior modes of articulation, those of the politician, the salesman, or the charlatan. In other words, it forfeits its own evolutionary potential. For what distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom is precisely the gift of speech. Poetry is not a form of entertainment and in a certain sense not even a form of art, but it is our anthropological, genetic goal. Our evolutionary, linguistic beacon.”
A Teacher's Reflections 
It’s a good quote, but his name is even better! M.C. Tuggle, how great is that! 🙂
I am considering changing my name to that one. Imagine my blog called ‘M. C. BeetleyTuggle’!
Best wishes, Pete.
It is definitely a good name. Hey, it might work for you, Pete. 😀
such great words and reminder – ‘a linguistic beacon’ – yes.
I was thunderstruck. Love ‘linguistic beacon’. What powerful words.
Wow! Excellent quote. And quite right.
I felt the same way. 🙂
Excellent. I recall a teacher reading “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson to us and being incredibly moved.
What a wonderful memory, Darlene!
Poetry was killed for me by school. It wasn’t until I left school and discovered Dylan, Harper, Cohen and Ginsberg that I learnt to love it again.
That is a great story, Opher. I think many adults hated poetry in school and found it later on. Music was a great venue to discover poetry.
School will do that, Opher, more’s the pity.
I should have added, unless you’re an Aqua Roomer!
😀
Brodsky’s quote applies now more than ever, when some in this country can’t even rise to the level of civil discourse, never mind evolutionary linguistic potential.
Hear, hear!
🙂
Hear hear! Poetry enriches and explains in ways prose fumbles to achieve…
His quote knocked my socks off. I also have a greater appreciation for fewer words to elicit more meaning. Know what I mean? That’s why children’s picture books are more difficult to write. Every word must be a beacon. Poetry is in that same family.
Wow, that was a mouthful. I think I got it but will reread it because the words were beautiful. The Frost poem is fantastic. No surprise there.
It was a mouthful. I read it a number of times. Good stuff!
I loved Frost when I discovered his work as a young adult, Jennie. And Shel Silverstein is a staple in our house. Thanks for sharing and thanks to Mike for the quote. 🙂
Thank you, Diana. So glad to know Shel is a staple in your house. 🙂 The quote hit me like a thunderbolt. Best to you!
wow as a poet I agree with his conclusion but I also have no doubt that it is art! And music, and connection and so much more, Robert Frost had poetic talent by the truck load 🙂
Yes!!! 😀
Indeed a great quote, Jennie! Thank you for sharing, and for bringing me closerto Mr.Tuggle.Enjoy your weekend! Michael (The WeekendVisitor Lol)
Thank you, Michael. I always appreciate The Weekend Visitor. 😀
Thank you very much, Jennie! Very kind of you. Adore also the history about Kindergarten. Sorry for my citical commenting there. Since i am knowing you and your work, i see an essential need of changing our system in Germany. Yes, we should have Kindergarten in future too, but we also need pre-schooling like you are doing in a perfect way. Enjoy your weekend. Michael
Preschool gives children an important foundation for discovery and social/emotional growth. Thank you, Michael! Happy weekend to you.
Thats so true, Jennie! Will we sometimes realize this in Germany too? Lets hope so. Best wishes, Michael
I do hope so!
Me too, Jennie! Actually here they are discussing how teacher could be made able getting more knowledge in teaching with the help of computers. Lol Wasnt it a scientist named Konrad Zuse who had invented the first computer in the 1920 years at Berlin? Lol
Yes!
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