Wordsworth wrote an endless poem in blank verse on” the growth of a poet’s mind.” I shall attempt a more modest feat for a more distracted age: a blog, “Things which a Lifetime of Trying to Be a Poet has Taught Me.”
NOTE: Starting in July, 2020, Dr. Williams’s poetry blog will be moving to http://www.thefivepilgrims.com. Watch for it there!
Plato started a conversation in The Republic that is still ongoing. Fortunately for us, Sir Philip Sidney was one of the participants.
THE CHALLENGE OF “THE REPUBLIC”
Plato banned the Poets from his state,
Yet said, if one could make a sound defense
In lilting verse with cogent arguments
That they do more than merely imitate
An imitation and dissimulate,
He’d take them back again. And ever since
Our best minds have been trying to convince
His cautious Guardians of their mistake.
Sir Philip Sidney laid a firm foundation
In his divine “Defense of Poesy”:
The Poet gives us Virtue’s exaltation
More strong than History or Philosophy,
Concretely shows through his imagination
Not just what is, but more: what ought to be.
Remember: for more poetry like this, order Dr. Williams’s collected poetry, Stars through the Clouds, 2nd edition (Lantern Hollow Press, 2020) at https://smile.amazon.com/dp/173286800X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860! And look for Williams’ very latest books: Deeper Magic: The Theology behind the Writings of C. S. Lewis (Square Halo Books, 2016), An Encouraging Thought: The Christian Worldview in the Writings of L. R. R. Tolkien (Christian Publishing House, 2018), and The Young Christian’s Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians Are Asked about God, the Bible, and the Christian Faith Answered (Christian Publishing House, 2019)! Order from the publisher or Amazon.
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