In a world saturated with diverse storytelling mediums, from sprawling novel series to captivating screenplays, one might question the relevance of poetry. Why choose this seemingly niche art form when other avenues promise broader appeal? This very question resonates deeply, especially as I embark on writing my own epic, The English Cantos, in the demanding terza rima form. While my son explores modern epics in anime and television, I believe poetry retains a potent, often untapped, power, and I encourage everyone to explore its depths.
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The Allure of Poetry: Beyond Tradition
My choice of poetry isn’t solely driven by tradition, though the echo of Dante’s Divine Comedy, also written in terza rima, certainly influences my own epic. The English Cantos can be interpreted as a continuation of this literary lineage, much like Virgil’s Aeneid builds upon Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Each work engages with its predecessors, sometimes reinterpreting their themes. Furthermore, terza rima remains relatively unexplored in English narrative poetry, offering a unique canvas for storytelling. As I noted in the introduction to my collection Divine Comedies:
“Perhaps the most famous example and use of terza rima being Shelley’s Triumph of Life, which interestingly is unfinished. In particular, I realised that the form provided me with the key to creating compelling narrative: blank verse is great for narrative, but Milton’s done it. Second greatest epic in the English language? Spenser’s Faerie Queene, but the Spenserian stanza for narrative purposes is clunky and slow, relatively speaking, and lends itself to gorgeous picture-making (so Keats’ Eve of St Agnes exploits the form superbly – it is a narrative but one of a richly, static kind). But perhaps terza rima could supply the necessary form to sustain the long poem.”
The Power of Beauty in a Deconstructed World
Beyond tradition lies a deeper reason for embracing poetry: its inherent beauty. In our modern world, we witness a pervasive deconstruction of beauty, from the dismissal of spiritual values to the prioritization of profit over artistic merit. This often translates into a bleak existence for many, marked by rising rates of depression, suicide, and addiction. People grasp at fleeting trends and clamorous voices, desperately seeking meaning in a world increasingly devoid of it.
This societal floundering stems, in part, from the false promises of secularism. We are told we don’t need external guidance, that we are the sole arbiters of our values and purpose. This self-proclaimed divinity echoes the hubris of the Tower of Babel, leading to fragmentation and confusion. We exist in a state of constant transmission but minimal communication, each trapped in a solipsistic echo chamber.
Similarly, the blind faith in technology as a panacea for all ills has, ironically, brought us closer to environmental catastrophe and further distanced us from the natural world. While technology has its merits, its idolatrous worship fosters a dangerous illusion of endless progress towards a utopian future. Ancient cultures, conversely, envisioned a decline from a Golden Age, a regression towards an Iron Age.
Poetry as a Counterpoint to Ugliness
Accompanying this secular utilitarianism is a pervasive ugliness, evident in everything from architecture to literature. Modern poetry is often stripped of form and beauty, yet praised for being “stark,” “unflinching,” or “bold,” as if negativity alone constitutes artistic merit. While ugliness and horror have their place, they must be integrated into a larger, meaningful whole. This trend extends to other art forms, where simplistic electronic loops replace intricate musical compositions.
There are, of course, exceptions to these observations. Musicians like Mumford & Sons, incorporating literary allusions into their work, and authors like David Hartley, experimenting with iambic pentameter in short stories, offer glimpses of artistic innovation and beauty. However, these remain exceptions in a landscape dominated by different trends.
The Creative Power of Constraint
The argument against formal poetry often centers on its perceived restrictiveness. Yet, paradoxically, the greatest creativity often flourishes within limitations. The American reverence for the short story exemplifies this principle, where concision and precision are highly valued. The sonnet, too, demonstrates the artistic potential of constraint. Can a mere 14 lines truly move the soul? Poetry’s power to create beauty stems precisely from the limitations it imposes on the writer. Like music, with its finite chords and rhythms, poetry challenges us to innovate within established frameworks.
Our modern obsession with unrestricted living – consuming, traveling, and indulging without limit – ultimately proves unhealthy and unfulfilling. True beauty and profound emotion often arise from restraint and disciplined control.
Embracing Beauty Through Poetic Discipline
By abandoning the illusion of unrestricted freedom and embracing the discipline of poetic form, we can rediscover the power of beauty. Through the skillful application of poetic techniques and a deep engagement with the spiritual, we can create works of enduring wonder.
(James Sale, FRSA is a leading expert on motivation and the author of several poetry collections. He can be found at www.jamessale.co.uk.)