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The fact that a good poem will never wholly submit to…

“The fact that a good poem will never wholly submit to explanation is not its deficiency but its very life. One lives every day what he cannot define. It is feeling that is first. What one cannot help but sense in good poetry is a sense of the whole language stirring toward richer possibilities…” quote by John Ciardi
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““The fact that a good poem will never wholly submit to explanation is not its deficiency but its very life. One lives every day what he cannot define. It is feeling that is first. What one cannot help but sense in good poetry is a sense of the whole language stirring toward richer possibilities than one could have foreseen.””

John Ciardi

About This Quote

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

Poetry’s power lies in its ability to evoke feeling beyond rational explanation, offering a richer, undefinable experience.

In simple terms: Poetry feels more than it can be explained.

Key Takeaway

Embrace feeling before analysis.

Themes

art emotion language creativity

Mood

contemplative inspired

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • reading poetry
  • writing
  • teaching literature
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

aesthetic experience ineffability interpretation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does feeling guide your understanding of art?
  • Can you experience poetry without analysis?
A Different Perspective

Its impact may be limited if the reader lacks emotional openness.

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