We often associate wonder with extraordinary experiences, moments of beauty or awe that stop us in our tracks. But what if wonder is also a way of paying attention, one that invites us to question what we think we know and remain open to what we cannot immediately understand?
Poetry offers a particular way of exploring this possibility. It asks us to slow down, look more closely, and make room for ambiguity, uncertainty, and experiences that resist easy explanation. In doing so, poetry may have something to teach us about presence, curiosity, and our capacity to find meaning in the world around us.
What if wonder is a way of paying attention that invites us to question what we think we know and remain open to what we cannot immediately understand?
Poet Maya C. Popa has spent years exploring wonder through her doctoral research and her creative work. Her collection Wound Is the Origin of Wonder examines wonder beyond beauty and astonishment, while her newest collection, If You Love That Lady, explores the ways attention and experience can challenge our assumptions. In this conversation, Popa reflects on the relationship between poetry and mindfulness, the value of questioning our perceptions, and how cultivating wonder might deepen our connection to the world around us.
