You could say that Robin Williams played an integral part in my evolution as a poet. When I was in eighth grade I lived in Texas, and we studied poetry. We talked about what poetry was, how to write poetry. And we looked at the world through different eyes. My teacher, Mrs. Eichenbaum, let us watch the film “Dead Poets Society” as part of our education in what poetry was.
And from that day on, Poetry was Passion. Poetry is Passion. I’ve written some terrible poetry, and I’ve written some great poetry. And it all comes back to this little film, that is such a sad film now that I think about it. And now, hearing of Robin William’s death, it is even more sad. It is one of my favorite movies, one that I always watch when I catch it on television.
The film has so much to say, and yet it’s quite a simple film. Towards the end it’s quiet, contemplative even. A group of boys suddenly get interested in poetry because they finally have a teacher who can make poetry come alive for them. They see more than just words on paper. They feel them. Carpe Diem! Sieze the Day!
Like his character in the film, Williams made other things come alive through his other roles, and his comedy. He made life more interesting, and made us look at the world in different ways. Another of my favorite films was” Bicentennial Man,” in which he played a robot who eventually became human. It led me to ask questions about how we classify humanity. It also got me interested in Isaac Asimov, who wrote the story.
In the final scene of “Dead Poets Society” he quietly leaves his classroom and only turns back once. Most of the students are standing on desks, saluting him, tears in their eyes. We should all take a moment to stand up, be it on a desk or somewhere else you don’t normally stand on, and salute the man who did such great things, and made us laugh. He brought so much passion into a role that it in turn created a passion in me for writing poetry, something I cherish greatly. That is enough for me to stand up.
I hope that his family will find comfort by remembering him, and sharing in other’s memories of him. He lived a good life and he will be missed greatly.
“Oh Captain, My Captain.”