Gregory Orr’s Poetry As Survival arrived today. Given what I’ve been musing about lately, I was pleasantly surprised by the opening paragraph of the book:
As a poet, I’ve always hated the fact that poetry often intimidates people. Many people I know feel that poetry is a test they can only pass if they are smart enough or sensitive enough, and most fear they will fail. Many refuse the test altogether–never read poetry–for fear of failure. Somehow something has gone wrong with poetry in our culture. We have lost touch with its value and purpose, and in doing so, we have lost contact with essential aspects of our own emotional and spiritual lives.
I have a feeling I’m going to really like this book.