“The poetry of a people comes from the deep recesses of the unconscious the irrational and the collective body of our ancestral memories”
— Margaret Walker
Simplified Meaning:
Poetry often comes from deep within our minds, touching on emotions and thoughts that we might not always understand. These feelings and ideas aren't always logical or clear, but they are powerful because they connect to a shared history and experiences of people who came before us. Imagine making a family recipe passed down through generations. You may not know why each ingredient is used, but when you taste it, it brings up emotions and memories you can’t quite put into words. Similarly, poetry taps into a shared heritage and the collective memories of our ancestors, pulling from a well of unconscious feelings and stories that unite us. Reading or writing poetry is like tapping into a deep well of human experience that we all have access to, even if we aren’t always aware of it. This is why poems can sometimes make us feel things we can't fully explain – they're touching on a part of us that goes beyond individual understanding and connects to something larger. By appreciating and exploring poetry, people can connect more deeply with their own feelings and the experiences of others, creating a sense of shared humanity.