why do dogs howl?

Ezra Pound said that poetry is an equation for an emotion. Some peole (we call poets) have skill and inclination to find the words which summon up their emotions in others.

The whole point is that our lives and our very existence is mysterious in its origin. Only people who will commit to religious and philosophical explanations of our existence find life a closed book with prosaic explanations for everything.

I think it was Wallace Stevens who was asked what one of his poems was about was about, and he answered if I knew that I should not have needed to write it. there ia point at which mere prose and the procession of stated facts about our life doesn't tell our story and thats where the poetry comes in.

In the poets words we find expression of the unique nature of being a human being, which is somehow recognisable. And we are not so lonely, not so much on our own. Less need to howl.

Sometimes, like in Dylan Thomas, we just get swept waway by the exuberance and vitality of the minute he expresses. And its fun.

all the best

Big Al Whittle