The Art of Poetry

as insurgent art…

This little manifesto-like book does what I believe poetry is supposed to do: inspire. It seems like Ferlinghetti’s master construction of words were built to inspire you in a day and age where poetry is kinda lame. Maybe I don’t read enough poetry to know any differently, or maybe Ferlinghetti is onto something. Isn’t poetry supposed to arouse our minds in a sort of verbal symphony?

disturb the sleep of those who
do not want to be disturbed
in the pursuit of happiness.

When I read poetry I want to feel like theres something I can do to make the world a better place. Ferlinghetti likes to remind us of how bland and boring our world has become, and that its the duty of today’s poets to bring the spark back to peoples lives.

freeways fifty lanes wide
on a concrete continent
spaced with bland billboards
illustrating imbecile illusions of happiness