Anthology: Is Poetry Important?, & Poems by Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, Virgil, R. S. Thomas

What can we say when we're told that poetry no longer matters, especially when it's another poet who says it? The first eleven minutes of this episode are my best defense for what poetry is and can be, while the rest offers and handful of poems which suggest that poetry is as powerful as it ever was. My answer at least would be: live with and become enthralled with the poetry that has lasted the longest, and celebrate those contemporary poems that have the same spirit. The rest is not our business.

The poems are:

• “Affinity,” by R. S. Thomas (1913-2000)
• #1142, by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
• Sonnet #27, by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
• from The Aeneid, Book 6, by Virgil (70 BC - 19 BC) (translated by Allen Mandelbaum)

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Any comments, or suggestions for readings I should make in later episodes, can be emailed to ⁠[email protected]⁠.