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Poetry Rules!!!

(but, then we already knew that!)

Robert Oxnam, Director Emeritus of the Asia Society, has stated that among the notions which influence Chinese poetry there is the idea that "a poem is a place where one's deepest emotions are felt." Additionally, Chinese poetry is a commentary on life at the time the poet lived and a reflection of the poet's personality. Finally, poetry reveals the poet's "moral fiber" and allows the poet to live beyond his or her time. The poem below illustrates these things and also the interaction between Confucianism and Daoism. It also gives the reader a glimpse of the wonderful Chinese sense of humor. The second poem is Korean and very contemporary. Although the Koreans may not have been writing poetry quite as long as the Chinese, they have been at it for over 2000 years. The Korean poem below reflects three of the themes that recur again and again in Korean poetry, namely: love, time and change.

Here are some brief reflections of some pretty amazing people on the subject of poetry.

The poet has realized that he (or she) has his (or her) own way, which is neither scientific or philosophical of know the world. -- Jacques Maritain (1883-1973) French Philosopher

The office of poetry is not to make us think accurately, but to feel truly. -- F. W. Robertson (1816-1853) English Minister

Poetry is the music of thought, conveyed to us in the music of language. -- Paul Chatfield (a.k.a. Horace Smith) (1779-1849) English Author

The greatest poem is not that most skillfully constructed, but that in which there is the most poetry. -- Leopold Schefer (b. 1784) German Poet

You will find poetry nowhere, unless you bring some with you. **** -- Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French Moralist

Poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward: it has given me the habit of wishing to discover the good and the beautiful in all that surrounds me. -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) English Poet

Poetry is the intellect colored by feelings. -- Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) American Ornithologist/Naturalist/Satirist

Poets are all who love and feel great truths, and tell them.**** -- Gamaliel Bailey (1807-59) American Journalist and Abolitionist

All that is best in the great poets of all countries is not what is national in them, but what is universal. -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-82) American Poet

Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.**** -- Plato(427-347) Greek Philosopher

Five notions have influenced Chinese poetry for centuries.

First, is the notion that a poem is a place where one's deepest emotions are felt.

Second, Confucian scholars felt that the poet, by expressing his deepest feelings in a poem, was also commenting on the time in which he (or she) lived.

Third, ... that a poet's personality is inscribed in a poem....

Fourth, it was assumed that poetry revealed the poet's moral fiber. ...

Fifth, through his poetry, a poet is seen to live beyond his (or her) time. -- Robert Oxnam, President Emeritus of the Asia Society

Note **** indicates personal faves

Robert Oxnam, with Paul Rouzer, in "The Confucian Tradition in Literature--Chinese Poetry: Origins of a Literary Tradition." Videotape series on The Confucian Tradition," produced by the Project on Asia in the Core Curriculum, Columbia University and distributed by Annenberg/CPB (1-800-LEARNER) or

http://www.learner.org/collections/multimedia/worldcultures/ctseries/