Another Reason for the Dislike of Poetry Is Because It Meets No Felt Want

       This brings us to the second answer to our question. The other great reason why boys and girls do not care for poetry is because it does not obviously meet their needs, which are of two kinds: objective and subjective. Their objective need is for stories, -- stories -- stories. Of course they like stories. Why shouldn't they? Stories tell about life, the great adventure which looms, wonderful, mysterious, ahead of them. Boys want stories of action, because for untold generations the man's part in life has been action. Girls want stories of love, of sentiment, because for untold generations the life of the woman has been one of feeling, of emotion. So boys and girls turn eagerly to stories. And the press meets their needs. How willingly it meets their needs, with its flood of cheap adventure, cheap business stories, cheap sentimental tales! Poetry, however, does not meet this desire for stories as well as do novels and tales. You get more story, and you get it quicker, in a novel than in a narrative poem. If, however, a love of the sound and rhythm of poetry has been developed in a child by constant hearing of poetry well read, that child will enjoy "The Lady of the Lake" or any of the great narrative poems when they are read to him or skilfully put in his way. His very love for a story, which on the surface is one reason why he avoids poetry, may be careful tactics on the part of parents and teachers, be made to contribute to his liking for good poetry. It does not obviously meet his need as the novel does; all the more reason for those who are educating him to find ways of helping him to find that which is less obvious. 

 Poetry integrated into life experiences.

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