麻

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering - these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love - these are what we stay alive for." This is a quote from the movie, “Dead Poet Society.” While there are a lot of quotable quotes in this movie, this one, from John Keating, who was the homeroom teacher, is especially memorable. It tells us the true essence of human life, not how much money one makes, not the status one achieves, but spiritual satisfaction one gains by being in love, engaging in romance, and savoring the beauty, all of which could be manifested in poetry.

Many things happened in lives, but not many could be kept in the deep corner of minds. Often, when we recall the past, it is not our achievement that emerges, but those that once gave us serene joy, exuberant ecstasy, stifling regret, or moaning misery－a tug at the heartstring. When these are melted in cauldron of words, the fragrance of poetry flows. Its ingredients are lives, and that’s why it’s part of the reasons we stay alive for.