Poets help us survive

There is, perhaps, no better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than by remembering that poetry helps us survive, points things out to us, provides a common language and experience, focuses and hones our attention to a shared point, evoking understanding, introspection, recognition, a spark of life. It was poetry that Virginia Tech turned to, turned toward, embraced. By its own poet in residence, Nikki Giovanni. Perhaps we should all make poetry of the dark moments of our lives. In so doing, it appears, something is released.