Valentin Gerlier, a thinker at the crossroads of poetry and philosophy, delves into the vital role poetry plays in today's world. He and Mark Vernon explore how figures like Plato and Blake viewed the poetic voice as essential for deeper understanding. They discuss why we are drawn to poets like Shakespeare and examine the paradoxes in human experience that both poetry and philosophy reveal. The conversation encourages a fresh perspective on profound texts, suggesting that a deeper engagement with poetry can transform our understanding of existence.