If you examine the highest poetry in the light of common…
“If you examine the highest poetry in the light of common sense, you can only say that it is rubbish; and in actual fact you cannot so examine it at all, because there is something in poetry which is not in the words themselves, which is not in the images suggested by the words 'O windy star blown sideways up the sky!' True poetry is itself a magic spell which is a key to the ineffable.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Poetry transcends literal language, invoking an ineffable magic beyond words or images.
In simple terms: Poetry is magical and beyond ordinary description.
Key Takeaway
Seek the feeling, not just the words.
Themes
poetry
magic
ineffability
Mood
mystical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- reading poetry
- creative writing
- art criticism
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
aesthetic experience
transcendence
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a poem move you beyond its literal meaning?
- Can you experience the 'magic' without words?
A Different Perspective
Poetry may be inaccessible to those who demand literal clarity.