What shall I say, what word, what cry recall, What god…
““What shall I say, what word, what cry recall, What god invoke, what charm, what amulet, To make a sonnet pay a hopeless debt, Or heal a bruised soul with a madrigal? O vanity of words! my cup of gall O'erflows with this, I have no phrase to set, And all my agony and bloody sweat Comes to this issue of no words at all. This is my book, and in my book my soul With its two woven threads of joy and pain, And both were yours before they were begun. Oh! that this dream would like a mist unroll, That I might look upon your face again, And hear your kind voice say: 'This was well done.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet struggles with language’s limits, yet seeks to convey deep emotion and connection through verse, acknowledging both joy and pain.
In simple terms: Poetry wrestles with words to express feeling.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the struggle of expressing deep emotions.
Themes
art
expression
language
emotion
creativity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
Key Concepts
poetics
human experience
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope when words fail?
- What non‑verbal ways convey your feelings?
A Different Perspective
Words may never fully capture experience.