Why The Snow Melts Poem by Paul Hartal

Had Plato read this poem, it probably would have reinforced his opinion that poets should be banned from the ideal city in his Republic. After all, suggesting, as this poem does, that love can thaw the snow seems to be illogical musing and pure misinformation.

But wait a minute. The greatest scientist of the modern age, Albert Einstein liked poetry. He was also an accomplished musician and a poet himself. And he said that imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge has its limits, whereas imagination is boundless. It is imagination that opens up new frontiers and advances human civilization by transcending knowledge.

Plato of course was and remains to be a philosopher giant. Yet we do not have always to listen to him. So, to him I say: Love is the greatest force of nature and one day perhaps scientists will find that love does melt the snow.

Paul Hartal

March 12,2011-
October 12,2012