Poetry Environment

Young people see the world in fresh, poetic ways that can inspire all of us to live beautifully and with great mindfulness.  The passages quoted below come from second year students at Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, where they learn to read, write and live poetry.

Poetry is the world of Compassion

Parisa observes, “Poetry pulled me to another world, the world of sharing with no social class, no greed, no selfishness.  For example, on my brother’s birthday, I asked my mom and my brother to go to the handicap association nearby my home.  They were very poor and hungry because only a few people think about them.  I felt very sad and want to go there again…  Poetry is the world of compassion.” 

This shows that poetry is much more than words; it is the art of caring.  She adds, “When I studied poetry, I turned my work to a smile.”  She knows that poetry is more than homework; it is the work living with joy.

Poetry Dares Me 

Her friend Sukanya feels, “From poetry, I use my wings, my intelligence to set me free from my illusions.  Poetry dares me to get inside my mind truly.  My life is getting better to be a unique human, which is so different from the robot way that I used to be.” 

Her use of metaphor to describe her feelings demonstrates that poetry has absorbed into her mind, language and way of life.  She discovers the beauty within her by reflecting on poetry.

Poetry opens the Mind

We learn another lesson from Jiraporn, who writes, “I’m in the process to open my mind wider and wider everyday so that I will have a poetic heart.  From poetry, I can see the beauty of life that I’d missed for all of my whole life.  I’ve begun saying, “Hi!” to strangers and I get back a smiley face.” 

Next time a young person smiles and says hello to you, please recognize the poetry that is alive in her heart.

The leaves are dancing to my Song

The young imagination loves to explore and express.  How many middle aged people are as optimistic as Nilobol when she says, “Even now, I am writing this essay.  I feel nervous, but I hear a bird make some noise.  I pretend that the bird is singing my favourite song!  I look out through the window and see the leaves move.  That means those leaves are enjoying my song because they dance.”

Poetry Sunlight

Do social leaders give us anything for inspiration?  Aoraer observes, “I once thought sunlight was so hot and I did not like it.  Now I have changed my idea and I know the benefit of sunlight such as warmth, power of life, symbol of starting a good thing in my life.  There is beauty in everything; it depends on you whether you can receive it or not.”

The environment of Poetry

Take a break from your work for a moment to ponder Chanatip’s reflection, “I haven’t seen butterflies for a long time.  I know that if we see a butterfly it means we live in a good environment.  I think the butterfly wants to tells us, “save the environment and we’ll come back.”  A million office workers in the city of Bangkok probably feel the same way.  Think about it.  When was the last time you sat down and watched a butterfly?

The Observer

“Poetry makes me more fine and (I learn to) observe many things around me.  I can see many things more beautiful than in the past.  Everything is like a beautiful flower.”  Will Jutatip keep her poetic spirit alive once she is forced into nine hours of office labour each day?  How much beauty will remain?

The gentle Poet

There is so much more to university than just getting grades.  Karbkaew notes, “Studying poetry gives me many good things to my life.  I am more gentle and optimistic.  I have poetic moments all the time in my daily life.”

Maybe the Ministry of Education needs to add gentleness, optimism and beauty to the national curriculum.

Irony of the Voice

It’s ironic that the people with the least power to speak up are the ones with the wisest advice.  Meanwhile, those with the most power continually tell us to buy more, earn more, and work more.  Who will keep the human spirit alive?