Why we can count on poetry, according to Griffin Poetry Prize finalist Donato Mancini

April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate, CBC Books asked poets the question: "What is the Power of Poetry?"

Donato Mancini is a poet and literary critic from Vancouver. His poetry collection, titled Same Diff, is on the Canadian shortlist for the 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize.

"It's the power of 150. 149. 148. 147. 146. 145. 144. 143. 142. 141. 139. 138. 137. 136. 135. 134. 133. 132. 131. 129. 128. 127. 126. 125. 124. 123. 122. 121. 119. 118. 117. 116. 115. 114. 113. 112. 111. 109. 108. 107. 106. 105. 104. 103. 102. 101. 99. 98. 97. 96. 95. 94. 93. 92. 91. 89. 88. 87. 86. 85. 84. 83. 82. 81. 79. 78. 77. 76. 75. 74. 73. 72. 71. 69. 68. 67. 66. 65. 64. 63. 62. 61. 59. 58. 57. 56. 55. 54. 53. 52. 51. 49. 48. 47. 46. 45. 44. 43. 42. 41. 39. 38. 37. 36. 35. 34. 33. 32. 31. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. And, especially, of 2. The power of poetry is the power of small numbers."