I think poetry can help children deal with the other subjects on the curriculum by enabling them to see a subject in a new way.

Duffy’s remark frames poetry as a way of thinking rather than a self-contained school subject. The claim is that poetic language—metaphor, rhythm, compression, and imaginative perspective—can “reframe” material from elsewhere in the curriculum, helping children approach topics with curiosity and emotional engagement. In practice, this suggests poetry can deepen comprehension (by making abstract ideas vivid), support memory (through pattern and sound), and encourage interpretive flexibility (seeing more than one meaning or angle). It also implies an inclusive educational value: poetry can give students alternative routes into learning, especially when conventional expository approaches feel remote or intimidating.