Watch and listen to Linda Pastan and you’ll understand.

You are not alone if you have said, “I don’t understand poetry,” or “I can’t get into poetry,” or “I wish I liked to read poetry.”

In truth, the tradition from which modern poetry arises is the spoken tradition.  One where meter was a guide to memory as troubadours traveled the countryside telling tales in verse.

It is still true today that the greatest pleasure in poetry comes when you hear it.  And if you are not about to read poems aloud to yourself, there is no better time to engage in listening and seeing poets than now.

YouTube is a treasure chest of poets reading their own work.  We can think of no better place to start our summer offerings from that site than with Linda Pastan’s reading at the Dodge Poetry Festival just after she celebrated her 55th wedding anniversary.  This is a confident poet reading two poems that speak of innocence, maturity and competence.  It is a gift from the poetry gods and a joy to behold.

Enjoy.