The First Poets hunted game in the forest and on the plains- <br />inventing signs and gestures; guttural sounds and mime- <br />and ultimately Words. <br /> <br />The First Poets wrote words and drew pictures <br />on the walls of caves <br />stamping their feet to drum-beats; <br />learning to dance. <br /> <br />The First Poets invented music for their words <br />religion, books and counting-conjuring up <br />in each instance-new things. <br /> <br />The First Poets imagined names for plants, <br />animals, birds and creatures of the sea; <br />sang songs about them-wrote poems and hymns. <br />creating sentiment, vows and promises- <br />marriage ceremonies. <br /> <br />Poets invented the idea of the Idea, of kindness, and visions. <br />Poets invented hope and the future, love of the past, community. <br />Poets invented the rhythm of our lives. <br /> <br />Poets re-invent themselves and civilization each generation. <br />They peer into the gauzy dream and dream what is not yet; <br />they peer inside themselves <br />reaching in <br />with-drawing something new <br />from that which had not been <br />there <br />before. <br /> <br />The First Poets invent and re-invent civilization each generation.<br /><br />Lonnie Hicks<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-first-poets/
