K T Ong... No, I certainly wouldn't say that not to appreciate poetry is not to have lived. It's the same discussion that dominates GenD these days: some hold that not to know God is not to live life to the fullest, some hold that to believe in God is a waste of life... and I think it's all a matter of perception. If you think you know what's good for you, you should do it. Poetry certainly adds a LOT to my life, and it's certainly enriched me, but I'll give you that it doesn't do the same for other people, and that's fine as well. I do feel, however, that a great deal depends on the will and the means to understand it. The analogy with religion works well here, too. Some of the members here at least have realised that while they may not believe in something, there may be merit in it after all. I firmly believe that it can never hurt to learn more about something.
I also think that most people who do not like poetry either have not the will to learn, or have never been given the means to learn to appreciate poetry. Of course, partially it should come naturally, but there's also a deal of skill involved. It's a *skill* to know how to read poetry, how to question the words in order to gain some fulfillment out of the reading, and that skill can be learned.
Hope that wasn't too much of a rant... it's still early here
