Poetry in (e)motion

Just read this most beautiful verse of poetry by William Blake.

To see a world in a Grain of Sand,

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

So powerful yet so simple: I love the contrast between the very large and the very small in both the spatial and temporal sense.

I met up with an old buddy from Bath Academy of Art two weekends ago, who has retired from his post as an English Teacher to pursue a dream he's always wanted - to write a novel.

Anyway, in amongst our subjects of debate, I was showing him examples of great lines in advertising, and how big ideas can come from them. In return he showed me how the best poetry comes from a big idea, almost the reverse effect.

Bearing in mind I've never really "got" poetry, he then read me some poetry of what he considered the best of English which included the poignant verse above.

My word, I was actually overwhelmed by it's beauty. I am now the proud owner of The Oxford Anthology of English Verse, and the whole episode has re-assured me how great copywriting can make the difference in advertising.