The First Fruit: Interruption to a Journey

  • Bryan Walpert
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Abstract

Walpert discusses the fundamental importance in mindfulness of developing an awareness of the present moment and argues that one function of the lyric poem is to encourage a focus on the present. After examining poems that suggest the role of the lyric poem as an interruption, Walpert argues more broadly that reading and writing poetry encourages a focus on the journey itself: on process, rather than just on product, and the ways in which process and product are intertwined. The chapter concludes with some practical ramifications in business and science for such training.

Keywords

Mindfulness and the present moment Lyric poetry Mindfulness and attention Poetry and attention Utility of poetry Poetry and mindfulness 
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Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bryan Walpert
    • 1
  1. 1.School of English and Media StudiesMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand

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