--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poetry is only secondarily about words…" description: "\"Poetry is only secondarily about words. Primarily, it is about truth. I dealt with the Ding an Sich, the substance behind the shadow, weaving powerful ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/dan-simmons-968_behinds_poetry-is-only-secondarily-about-words-p_2957407.jpg" --- # Poetry is only secondarily about words. Primarily, it is… ![“Poetry is only secondarily about words. Primarily, it is about truth. I dealt with the Ding an Sich, the substance behind the shadow, weaving powerful concepts, similes, and connections the way an engineer would raise a skyscraper with the whiskered-alloy skeleton being constructed long before the…” quote by Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/dan-simmons-968_behinds_poetry-is-only-secondarily-about-words-p_2957407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/dan-simmons-968_behinds_poetry-is-only-secondarily-about-words-p_2957407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/dan-simmons-968_behinds_poetry-is-only-secondarily-about-words-p_2957407.jpg) > “Poetry is only secondarily about words. Primarily, it is about truth. I dealt with the Ding an Sich, the substance behind the shadow, weaving powerful concepts, similes, and connections the way an engineer would raise a skyscraper with the whiskered-alloy skeleton being constructed long before the glass and plastic and chromaluminum appears.” [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## 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 core purpose is conveying truth, not just playing with language; its structure mirrors engineering foundations. **In simple terms:** Poetry seeks truth beyond words. Key Takeaway Focus on truth, not just words. Themes poetry truth craft language Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - writing - teaching - public speaking - creative workshops Key Concepts metaphor structure engineering conceptualization Questions to Reflect On - How does truth shape your poetic voice? - What foundations support your ideas? A Different Perspective Truth can be subjective; not all readers perceive depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glasses/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-is/) [Poetry Secondarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-secondarily-4487458/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Secondarily Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secondarily-words-4487459/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Simile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simile/) [Skeletons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeletons/) [Skyscraper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skyscraper/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaving/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Primarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-primarily-4487460/) ## Related quotes > [ \[New York\] is a city largely based on great skyscrapers, and they will always be the essence of New York. 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