In this week of the Presidential Inauguration, it must be said that poetry serves another function when deployed in public: it is classy, it adds tone and the aura of high-minded literary prestige.

“It means ‘Tablet of Eternity,’” my Baba said casually, cleaning his paintbrush. I didn’t understand, so I simply went back to coloring. After a moment of silence, he added, “You know, this singer was ...