It's that time.

Lock and load.

Lock and load.

The Michael Berry Show is on the air.

Great civilizations throughout history

promote certain things.

They promote the arts, they promote science.

As endeavors, as study for advancement,

they promote commerce in every way, shape, and form.

They provide the freedom for the individual to choose their faith and to practice it freely.

These are the markers of great societies.

We can add to that list.

And I've said this a thousand times in my years on the radio. You've heard me say this.

And if you haven't, I'll say it now.

We once as a people before America, I mean Western civilization, honored its poets.

Your poets are the people who give voice to your thoughts, your experiences, your grief, your love,

your friendship, your hurt, your betrayal, your anger, your vengeance, your regrets, your aspirations.

I mean you think about how we treat William Shakespeare, Lord Byron, W. B. Yates. And to some extent that

continues all the way into American history and it continues for artists, for

writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson for instance, Henry David Thoreau. But somewhere along the way, poets stopped just writing for the rich patrons

who would pay for their writings. They were kept men, to be very clear. They were kept by their patrons. It wasn't

very little of that was for the general public. We just get to enjoy it today.

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