When Poets Were Magicians: The Ancient Power of Words

Some poets have a magical way with words. In ancient societies, poets were believed to possess magical abilities, weaving complex rhythms into language. They were seers, shamans, and mediators with the divine.

Words as Enchantment and Prophecy

The connection between poetry and magic is deeply rooted in language. The Greek word for song, aoidē, is closely related to epaoidē, which means “enchantment”. I certainly know some modern poets who enchant with their words!

The famous Greek poet Orpheus was considered to possess magical powers. His songs were known to charm animals, trees, and rocks, and he even used music to journey to the underworld.

In ancient Rome, poetic texts were used for methods of divination. This practice, called Sortes Vergilianae, involved opening a copy of Virgil’s famous epic poem, Aeneid, to a random page and interpreting the first verse seen as a prophecy.

Across cultures, the poet’s role was powerful:

• The poet, or fili,, in early medieval Ireland, was considered a seer. To become a master poet, the fili, had to possess a clairvoyant faculty known as $imbas\ forosnai$ (“the great knowledge which illuminates”), which provided insight into the past, present, and future.
• In oral tradition cultures, poets were the keepers of the collective memory and the history of the society.
• The West African Yoruba people used oral canon poetry for problem-solving.

Perhaps the recitation wasn’t strictly thought of as “poetry,” but the incantation and rhythm created a sense of magic and enchantment.

The Modern Quest for Voice

Sadly, as societies became more developed, poets were no longer considered magical and sacred. Instead of being divine, poetry became solely a means of artistic expression. Many modern poets now use their words to effect modern behavior, improve social conditions, and educate about inequalities.

Poetry is where language reaches its greatest precision and richest suggestion. The poem is a shape of words designed to evoke a world the reader can complete. The true quest of the poet is to discover her own voice—to write the poem that has not yet been written. This requires reaching beyond the chattering voices of the surface culture and diving inward to the “root-voice,” where creativity has the necessity of inevitability.

I confess, I feel unworthy when I read about the depth of feeling and the importance of producing emotion from the reader. I use my words to educate and entertain. I’d like to think my words are magical, but I suspect they’re not—amusing perhaps. If readers find them fun and informative, I’m happy. Maybe that’s the magic in my poetry.

Uncover the Magic of Learning!

I might not be Orpheus, but I use my words to bring the magic of science and conservation to young readers! Download one of my educational workbooks based on animals from the Sonoran Desert, The Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, and start your learning adventure today!