The purpose of poetry?

    To awaken compassion,
    unseat the ego,
    encapsulate experience,
    startle the heart,
    reconcile our disparate selves,
    focus attention,
    grapple with God,
    heal,
    open windows,
    further the journey,
    surrender,
    embrace the other,
    sidestep convention,
    engage the senses,
    break open the heart.