LIVING POETRY: FIVE RUMINATIONS

As a poet and language educator, I am often asked, Is this a good poem?, as if I carry some kind of standard measuring device for assessing the value of poems. But, perhaps the important question is not, Is this a good poem?, but instead, What is a poem good for? So, in this paper, I offer five reasons why poetry is important for living. Of course, there are many more reasons that could be discussed, but my goal is to contribute to an ongoing dialogue among language educators about the value of living poetry in our personal and professional lives.