"Thoughts that breathe. Words that burn." This is the English poet Thomas Gray's striking definition of his art. "The best words in their best order", added Samuel Taylor ColeridgeAn English poet and critic whose thoughts and writing greatly influenced modern poetry.. Poetry can be hard to pin down, but you know it when you see it.

There is no doubt: words are powerful. UNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It aims to promote international cooperation in the arts, education, science and culture.  Director-General Audrey Azoulay says poetry can "open doors to others, enrich dialogue and is more necessary than ever in turbulent times".

We find poems in every culture, going back to the dawn of civilisation. They tell sweeping stories like the Epic of GilgameshA heroic saga written in ancient Mesopotamia, over 3,000 years ago., the world's oldest poem. Or they can convey the intimate truths of the human heart, from Shakespeare's love sonnets to Rumi's mysticismRumi (1207 - 1273) was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic. He has become the best-selling poet in the United States..

And they make history. Last year, Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to speak at a US presidential inauguration, aged 22. Her books skyrocketed to the top spots on Amazon and she was the first poet to be invited to perform at the Super Bowl.

Despite all this, poetry is often viewed as inaccessible, foolish and pointless. "Many more people agree they hate poetry," says critic Ben Lerner, "than can agree what poetry is". So is this metrophobiaThe fear of poetry. justified, or is there a compelling case for poetry today?

Its biggest critic was the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. He denounced poetry as "the mother of all lies" for trying to persuade with emotions instead of logical argument. He threw the poets out of his ideal state, along with playwrights and painters.

The Tudor satirist Stephen Glosson agreed, lumping poets in with "pipers, players and jesters", immoral entertainers who waste their time corrupting society. His attack inspired An Apology for Poetry, a vigorous defence of literature by poet Philip Sidney.

Poetry can "teach and delight", wrote Sidney. Its supporters say reading and writing poems helps us understand ourselves and other people. It shows us that we share the same complex feelings with people we have never met, or who are long dead.

"Poetry improves us," says poet Brad Leithauser, by making us "slow down". We pay attention to the sound and rhythm of words. We become calmer and happier, more empathetic and less judgemental.

In 1922, the American writer Edmund Wilson asked: Is Verse a Dying Technique? Ever since, critics have lamented the "death of poetry" and plummeting book sales. The truth is the exact opposite. In the UK, readers spent £12.35m on poetry in 2020 - an all-time high.

Young readers and young poets are driving the new boom. Instapoets like Rupi KaurThe Canadian poet became the most successful Instagram-based "instapoet", with her 2014 debut collection Milk and Honey. It has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 25 languages. use social media to share their work. In times of crisis and uncertainty, people are turning to poetry, says Susannah Herbert of the Forward Arts FoundationA charity that promotes poetry in the UK and Ireland. It organises National Poetry Day on 7 October.: "There is a hunger out there for more nuanced and memorable forms of language."

But are they "the best words in their best order"? And do they breathe and burn? These are not frivolous questions. UNESCO believes poetry can help bring peace, dialogue and "human progress" to the world.

Yes: Reading poetry makes us attentive and performing gives us the confidence of public speaking. Memorising poems trains our focus and memory. Writing them helps us understand and communicate our feelings.

No: Poetry encourages us to stay wrapped up in our emotions. It celebrates vague and obscure language when we need clarity and purpose. Instead of messing around with words, we should learn practical skills.

Or... Poetry is pointless and that's the point. We spend too much of our time trying to improve ourselves and the world. But something doesn't have to be useful to be valuable and give us pleasure.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge - An English poet and critic whose thoughts and writing greatly influenced modern poetry.

UNESCO - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It aims to promote international cooperation in the arts, education, science and culture.

Epic of Gilgamesh - A heroic saga written in ancient Mesopotamia, over 3,000 years ago.

Rumi's mysticism - Rumi (1207 - 1273) was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic. He has become the best-selling poet in the United States.

Metrophobia - The fear of poetry.

Rupi Kaur - The Canadian poet became the most successful Instagram-based "instapoet", with her 2014 debut collection Milk and Honey. It has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 25 languages.

Forward Arts Foundation - A charity that promotes poetry in the UK and Ireland. It organises National Poetry Day on 7 October.