What Will Your Verse Be?

Finding a good movie for family movie night has become increasingly a struggle.  We have hit all of the appropriate biggies from our youth and current and are always looking to be gently reminded of what we have omitted.  Last week I saw the new iPad Air commercial.  Not only was it great, but it reminded me of a favorite movie regrettably filed so far away, almost forgotten.

Friday night we watched Dead Poet's Society together.  I must say, though our kids have really taken to our music, we must have failed some in the important actor realm.. Upon the opening credits Charles said Oh, that's the guy from "The Crazy Ones ", I've seen a commercial for that.  Face, Palm.

I am so taken with this movie and both of the kids absolutely loved it.  In fact it led to the discussion of our beloved Puck, whom we lost almost two years ago.  She was named after Puck from A Midsummer Night's dream, the name inspired not only by my love of Shakespeare, but how moved B and I were by the powerful role Puck played in this movie.

It inspired me to immediately download and read Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Reflections upon this reading are leading me on a path of further discovery where Whitman is concerned which will be a blog post in and of itself.  Watching the movie brought on a trip down memory lane with B remembering  a lengthy paper that he wrote in college trying to dissect the thought process of Whitman's multiple revisions.  A paper that his College professor asked him to present at an literary conference.

So many beautiful lessons in this movie prompting you to ask questions of yourself.  Charles' only negative critique was that he felt the title was ridiculous.  "I thought it was going to be about a bunch of dead poets and really did not want to watch it."   Yet another lesson learned.  Don't judge a book by its cover.  There are so many great quotes in this movie.  One that really resonates with me and should inspire a mantra:

"That the powerful play goes on and you will have contributed a verse."
Whitman

Think about that bright and early on this Monday morning.  As the captain said:  "What will your verse be?"