Poetry for Everyday Life

This past week, New York Times op-ed columnist, David Brooks broke away from his usual political commentary with an article called, “Poetry for Everyday Life,” in which he examines the use of metaphorical language. As writers, we think the world of metaphors (Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?), however, Brooks talks about the everyday metaphors that manifest without poetic intention. He says that using phrases like, “devoured a book,” instead of “read eagerly,” are meant to facilitate our comprehension, but end up giving an inaccurate and distorted understanding of what is truly being said.

As someone who loves a good metaphor, I find it strange that it is being discussed as a rudimentary method of communication. In my mind, the word has strong Aristotelian connotations, and calls to mind Robert Frost’s, “The Road Not Taken.” A metaphor comes from a profound understanding of an idea; it is something that appears abstract, but conveys an unambiguous message. Mr. Brooks writes a compelling article, but it would work just as well to say “figure of speech,” if only to protect the integrity of the metaphor.

Read David Brooks’ “Poetry for Everyday Life”