Daily Meditation: Monday, February 14, 2011

Poetry - higher than music

02/14/2011

True poetry is an expression of the divine Word that is at once music, colour, form and fragrance. And so its power is immense. Some will say that music is more powerful than poetry, since it affects the listener’s sensitivity directly. Its language, however, is not as clear and therefore not as educative as that of poetry, for it is only made up of sounds, whereas a poem is made up of words, through which melody, rhythm and tone can be perceived, as well as colour, form and architecture. And above all we find meaning. Music awakens feeling, stimulates the will, but it does not give a clear direction. You can listen to music all your life and remain none the surer or the wiser, whereas when you read or listen to the works of a truly inspired poet, you discover a meaning thanks to the words, and then you move forward with a sense of clarity.