This may be an awkward comment, but I am going to try to express what I think is the high significance of this poem. During my senior year, History majors was required to take a class on the Philosophy of History. There, we did not study some particular historical sequence: rather, we studied the ways historical theories were presented, and the perspectives from which historians viewed their chosen eras and events. One's senior thesis was written under the auspices of this class; and one did not graduate without the successful completion of the senior thesis.
I said all that to say this: This poem is one of the finest theoretical summaries of the historical process that I have ever encountered. It is not only among the very finest that I have read, I also believe it deserves to be taught. They tell me that when the great poet, Wallace Stevens (himself a lawyer) was mentoring a certain young man through law school, he would tell him, in regard to the various courses required, that each course had a particular supreme point to present, and that by finding and studying that point, he (the student) would be able to organize his reading, his papers, and his examination answers around it. And this poem presents a point that is not only appropriate, profoundly appropriate, for a senior class on Philosophy of History, it is also a reading method that a freshman History major would find useful and practical when approaching the subject as a new major.
And, finally, I will say that, although I wish I could have read this poem (I dare not say, I wish I could have actually been smart enough to think the way this poem directs) during my collegiate days, I am glad I have lived long enough to be able to read it now (although my visit is a little behind schedule due to my circumstances). You should be very, very, very proud of this poem; it is one of the centerpieces of your entire collection on this site; and it is further proof of what I most sincerely believe, that you are one of the Pillars of the PostPoems community.
To have made its mark, however subjective that process may be, is probably the pinnacle of poetry (universally) and the heart's goal of each poem (individually).
To have thus arrived, as per your most welcome and illuminating response, brings the poetic process full circle and an entire Humanity's breath thus cycled, oxygenating the alveoli of history yet being written as it is lived in the present, thus creating a beacon of hope in the souls of its participants.
Philosophy, as a course of study in all levels of formal education, had personally been a curious experience for me bringing along certian lingering thoughts.
Your most appreciated interaction and well thought out reply has made this apparent and most useful in the pointing out of that organising 'mechanism' within each student, no matter what age.
It is always a pleasure to hear from you and please note that it is not intentional to impose upon you in your current condition. This only makes your interaction even more valuable. And for that I am truly and most wholeheartedly grateful.
This may be an awkward
This may be an awkward comment, but I am going to try to express what I think is the high significance of this poem. During my senior year, History majors was required to take a class on the Philosophy of History. There, we did not study some particular historical sequence: rather, we studied the ways historical theories were presented, and the perspectives from which historians viewed their chosen eras and events. One's senior thesis was written under the auspices of this class; and one did not graduate without the successful completion of the senior thesis.
I said all that to say this: This poem is one of the finest theoretical summaries of the historical process that I have ever encountered. It is not only among the very finest that I have read, I also believe it deserves to be taught. They tell me that when the great poet, Wallace Stevens (himself a lawyer) was mentoring a certain young man through law school, he would tell him, in regard to the various courses required, that each course had a particular supreme point to present, and that by finding and studying that point, he (the student) would be able to organize his reading, his papers, and his examination answers around it. And this poem presents a point that is not only appropriate, profoundly appropriate, for a senior class on Philosophy of History, it is also a reading method that a freshman History major would find useful and practical when approaching the subject as a new major.
And, finally, I will say that, although I wish I could have read this poem (I dare not say, I wish I could have actually been smart enough to think the way this poem directs) during my collegiate days, I am glad I have lived long enough to be able to read it now (although my visit is a little behind schedule due to my circumstances). You should be very, very, very proud of this poem; it is one of the centerpieces of your entire collection on this site; and it is further proof of what I most sincerely believe, that you are one of the Pillars of the PostPoems community.
Starward
To have made its mark,
To have made its mark, however subjective that process may be, is probably the pinnacle of poetry (universally) and the heart's goal of each poem (individually).
To have thus arrived, as per your most welcome and illuminating response, brings the poetic process full circle and an entire Humanity's breath thus cycled, oxygenating the alveoli of history yet being written as it is lived in the present, thus creating a beacon of hope in the souls of its participants.
Philosophy, as a course of study in all levels of formal education, had personally been a curious experience for me bringing along certian lingering thoughts.
Your most appreciated interaction and well thought out reply has made this apparent and most useful in the pointing out of that organising 'mechanism' within each student, no matter what age.
It is always a pleasure to hear from you and please note that it is not intentional to impose upon you in your current condition. This only makes your interaction even more valuable. And for that I am truly and most wholeheartedly grateful.
here is poetry that doesn't always conform
galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver