What I Believe

1.  I believe that all people have both good and evil in them.

2.  I believe that every good deed is rewarded and offense is punished in the end.

3.  I believe that life should be lived to the fullest.

He Who Binds Himself to Joy

by William Blake
He who binds to himself a joy   Doth the winged life destroy.  He who kisses the joy as it flies,  Lives in eternity's sunrise. Though short in length, I believe that this poem contains a host of meaning and significance.   According to Blake, those who become too enamored and attached to the pleasures and joys in life will only end up in a dissatisfying life.  They become "chained" and will be "destroyed by the winged life."  However, those who instead accept the joy when it comes to them will be  free to "live in eternity's sunrise."

"It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there." ~~William Carlos Williams

I believe that this quote rings true for many situations in everyone's life.  Though poetry can almost never provide one with any news or tidings of current happenings, it can still teach important lessons and wisdom about life.  Any worthwhile poem contains themes that are universal whether they are about joy, depression, love or life in general.  Ergo, those who do not enough poetry will miss out a multitude of important lessons and wisdom that could drastically change the way they go through life.  By learning from the mistakes, triumphs and other experiences of poets , it is possible to change how one's life is led.