Guest Writer | The Power of Poetry

Babs Gons spent years traveling the world with her poems, repeatedly struck by what poetry does to people. How words can touch us deeply, how strong the longing for connection can be, how someone carries a poem with them their entire life.

In moments of emotional need, people seek comfort in the right words - and that is no accident. Research even shows that the hearts of listeners can beat in sync during a shared recitation.

Captivated by stories in which poetry brought about something essential, Gons began collecting them. The central question that drives her: what is actually the power of poetry?