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All writers recognize this surge of striking; in its…

“All writers recognize this surge of striking; in its energies the objects of the world are made new, alchemized by their passage through the imaginal, musical, world-foraging and word-forging mind. This altered vision is the secret happiness of poems, of poets. It is as if the poem encounters the…” quote by Jane Hirshfield
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““All writers recognize this surge of striking; in its energies the objects of the world are made new, alchemized by their passage through the imaginal, musical, world-foraging and word-forging mind. This altered vision is the secret happiness of poems, of poets. It is as if the poem encounters the world and finds in it a hidden language, a Braille unreadable except when raised by the awakened imaginative mind.””

Jane Hirshfield

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Poetry transforms ordinary objects into new, alchemical forms, revealing hidden meanings accessible only to an awakened imagination.

In simple terms: Poems reveal hidden layers in the world.

Key Takeaway

Seek imaginative perception.

Themes

art imagination transformation language perception

Mood

inspired thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • reading poetry
  • creative workshops
  • visual arts
  • music composition

Key Concepts

aesthetic theory cognitive psychology symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you cultivate an awakened mind?
  • What practices reveal hidden language in daily life?
A Different Perspective

Not all readers experience this alchemical shift.

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