The Power of the Poem

The power of poetry should never be taken for granted. Simple lines of words strung together have the power to alter ones thought and the world. In the words of Robert Frost, “A complete poem is one where an emotion finds the thought and the thought finds the words.”

Perhaps the most famous poem in American history and one that sparked revolution all across the world since its conception is the “Declaration of Independence.” Sadly enough, many Americans are unaware that the scripture was meant to be read out-loud. As copies of the declaration circulated through the colonies, towns and cities alike gathered to hear the oration. Accompanying the poetic words were the shouts, huzzas and cheerful firing of muskets while emblems of the old regime were torn down.

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

That all men are created equal,

That they are endowed by their Creator

With certain inalienable rights;

That among these are life, liberty

And the pursuit of happiness.

The sentence is inscribed in an iambic pentameter, the rhythmic pairing of ten syllables for each line into five pairs, and is undoubtedly the most powerful line of poetry ever written. The words and rhythms in proud and defiant tones, presented a statement boldly marking the beginning of the end for monarchs and czars alike who claimed they possessed the “divine right” to rule over their citizens. This sentence will also brought about the end of slavery in the United States and its message is still as powerful today as it was over 200 years ago.

The Declaration deserves a second look this month and I encourage our readers to recite the passages aloud and feel the true meaning behind our Declaration of Independence.

To learn more about the different methods of poetry check Poetry For Beginners!