Poetry

You ask what poetry can mean to me? No glib reply will leap forth from my tongue. As well to ask if food and drink might be Of any use! I reckon it among The minimum necessities of life. A poem can affect us many ways— Caress like a lover, cut like a knife, Cajole, instruct, enthuse, amuse, amaze, Can take us places we have never been, And show us sights our eyes will never see, Or like some fairy godmother or jinn Transform us into what we’ll never be. For poetry can soothe, enrage, extol, Engage one’s mind, or plumb one’s very soul. Written February 23, 2019 This poem was selected as the winner, in the adult category, of the 22nd annual Anne Dittrick Sonnet-Writing Contest, sponsored by the Nebraska Shakespeare festival. A link: http://www.nebraskashakespeare.com/a/nebraskashakespeare.com/nebraska-shakespeare-2017-redesign/education/sonnet-contest/2018-winning-sonnets