Dead Poets' Society-esque Rant

"We don't read and write poetry because
it's cute. We read and write poetry
because we are members of the human race.
And the human race is filled with passion.
Medicine, law, business, engineering,
these are all noble pursuits, and necessary
to sustain life. But poetry, beauty,
romance, love, these are what we stay alive
for. To quote from Whitman: "O me, o life
of the questions of these recurring, of the
endless trains of the faithless, of cities
filled with the foolish. What good amid
these, o me, o life? Answer: that you are
here. That life exists, and identity.
That the powerful play goes on, and you
may contribute a verse. That the powerful
play goes on and you may contribute a verse.

What will your verse be?"

"KEATING
The Dead Poets were dedicated to sucking
the marrow out of life. That's a phrase
from Thoreau that we'd invoke at the
beginning of each meeting. You see we'd
gather at the old Indian cave and take
turns reading from Thoreau, Whitman,
Shelley; the biggies. Even some of our
own verse. And in the enchantment of the
moment we'd let poetry work its magic.

KNOX
You mean it was a bunch of guys sitting
around reading poetry?

KEATING
No Mr. Overstreet, it wasn't just "guys",
we weren't a Greek organization, we were
romantics. We didn't just read poetry,
we let it drip from our tongues like honey.
Spirits soared, women swooned, and gods
were created, gentlemen, not a bad way to
spend an evening eh? Thank you Mr. Perry
for this trip down amnesia lane. Burn that,
especially my picture."

Why does nobody take poetry this seriously anymore?

In my AP English class, we've studied a few poems from poets like Thoreau, Dickinson, Poe, Whitman, all the good poets who really left their mark in romantic literature. And what did about 87% of my class say when we were assigned such poems? "Ugh. Why do we have to read this stupid stuff?" We even watched the movie "Dead Poets Society" in class, the first time I've seen it, and still they complain that their aloud the privilege of such a fine education.

Few people realize that poetry is everywhere. It is. Matt Tuck; M. Shadows; Robert Plant; Snoop Dogg; they're all poets. Poetry is in the music we listen to; the same passion, same conviction, same means of living before death. We feel poetry every day of our lives. So why do we scorn the classic stuff, the romantic stuff, the gothic stuff? It isn't hard to understand if you really take the time to read every word and understand what every phrase is saying.

Poe and Whitman were amazing poets, and to this day are in my vault of favorites. But how does anyone in my generation, or even the generation above mine, know of these extraordinary gentlemen? "Well, that hot guy on Full House read "O Captain, My Captain" by Walt Whitman, and Poe wrote The Raven." Do you know what O Captain and The Raven are really saying? I can assure you, while they are about Abraham Lincoln and a man's insanity in the form of a grimly ominous creature, there is so much more to them.

Fine literature; truly, truly fine literature, and being able to understand it and appreciate it like the characters of "Dead Poets Society" do, that's the best education we can give to ourselves. I beg you, I implore you, take poetry seriously. Take all classic and romantic literature seriously; it's one of the greatest intellectual freedoms humans can ever embrace.