“Did you know poetry pre-dates writing?

Before there were written languages people all over the world remembered and passed on their important stories through oral poetry. They used predictable rhymes and rhythms based on the natural flow of breath and beat of the heart because it made them easier to recall.

These ancient poets or story tellers were revered as they were the memory keepers of culture and community history. Without them there was no continuity.”

from http://write-out-loud.com

A book by Roger Housden called Ten Poems to Change Your Life is a good read for anyone interested in poetry. Give it a try.