Poetry Quote by Archibald MacLeish
““ Ars Poetica A poem should be palpable and mute As a globed fruit, Dumb As old medallions to the thumb, Silent as the sleeve-worn stone Of casement ledges where the moss has grown— A poem should be wordless As the flight of birds. A poem should be motionless in time As the moon climbs, Leaving, as the moon releases Twig by twig the night-entangled trees, Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves, Memory by memory the mind— A poem should be motionless in time As the moon climbs. A poem should be equal to: Not true. For all the history of grief An empty doorway and a maple leaf. For love The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea— A poem should not mean But be.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Ars Poetica, 1926
Poetry should evoke feeling without explicit meaning, existing as a sensory, timeless experience.
In simple terms: Poetry is felt, not explained.
Key Takeaway
Create evocative, wordless art.
Themes
art
poetry
expression
silence
nature
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary analysis
- creative meditation
Key Concepts
aestheticism
symbolism
imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions does the poem evoke?
- How can silence convey meaning?
A Different Perspective
Risk of being overly abstract, losing clear communication.
