"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, 'O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless--of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?' Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

i was just thinking. have you ever read a poem about math or money or business or wide-screen TVs or your latest manicure?

i never have.

my theory is that deep down we all realize that material possessions never can or will bring us the happiness that we spend our lives searching for.

happiness is found in giving, creating, laughing, crying, community, discovery.

we know it. we KNOW.

yet we continue this vicious cycle of consumerism and deny the fact that what we do everyday affects the rest of the world.