Poetry, whether we think we like it or not, has had a significant role in most of our lives since the days when Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, and Little Bo Peep lost her sheep. In its simplest form poetry taught us words and rhymes. It helps us remember basic information such as “In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
     Then we moved back to the realization that poetry didn’t have to make sense it could just be for fun as we read Dr. Seuss. However, he manages to sneak in some pretty important lessons into the fun like, “Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you.”
     Poetry didn’t end when we were small. I remember being required to memorize “The Charge of the Light Brigade” in eighth grade and reading Shakespeare’s sonnets in high school. Then to most of my classmate’s disdain, but to my joy, we were assigned to write a poem. My teacher returned my paper with “You have a flair for poetry” written at the top of the page. I had always loved to write, but this validated me. Someone actually thought I was good.
     I think deep down almost everyone loves poetry, even those who protest loudly that they don’t. Who doesn’t remember the song that was playing when they first fell in love or one they chose for their wedding or even the lullaby they sang to their child? Songs are poems set to music. The lyricist wrote the words in a melodic fashion so that they would evoke emotions and linger in the listener’s mind.
     Just as in every other aspect of our lives, poetry is also an important part of worship. It is a wonderful gift of self-expression. The psalmist spent much time penning his struggles, his questions and his love for the Lord. He proclaims, “He has put a new song, in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3) (NIV).
     Poetry can be a means of expressing our own thoughts to our Heavenly Father. I will share one of my worship poems with you. I challenge you to take a few minutes and write one of your own. I can think of no better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than to celebrate our God.