in which countries is poetry a way of life/ most appreciated?

Based on what I know of Iran, Iran must surely be one of them. Every Iranian knows at least several poets and has an opinion of those poets (eg. Firdowsi, Sadi, Khayyam, Rumi). Poems are read in criminal court proceedings, start off speeches, and even feature in military music.

The reasons for poetry's appreciation may be because poets are considered national heroes by saving Persians from becoming fully Arabised- unlike their neighbours- by maintaining the Persian language under Arab, Turkic and Islamic colonialism. Persia's history is a long one of military defeats, so there is little celebration of heroic military exploits other than in the mythical Shahnameh. Islamic prohibitions on music, painting and sculpture left only architecture, calligraphy and poetry as artistic pursuits. Poetry is also compulsory from primary school to university, making it inescapable.

Australia in contrast doesn't have the same widespread appreciation as it doesn't feature as a way of life (sport does). Most Australians couldn't explain a poem and wouldn't know the woman on the $10 dollar bill is poet Mary Gilmore. I'm talking about the masses, not select circles of society.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

in which countries is poetry a way of life/ most appreciated?