Incantation Quote by Mary Ruefle
“The origins of poetry are clearly rooted in obscurity, in secretiveness, in incantation, in spells that must at once invoke and protect, tell the secret and keep it.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Origins of Poetry” in The Poetry of Mary Ruefle, 2005
Poetry emerges from hidden, ritualistic practices that both summon and guard meaning, blending secrecy with power.
In simple terms: Poetry starts in secret, magical rites.
Key Takeaway
Explore hidden layers in your writing.
Themes
creativity
ritual
language
Mood
mysterious
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- personal journaling
- performance poetry
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
myth
incantation
protection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does secrecy shape artistic expression?
- What rituals inspire your creativity?
A Different Perspective
Poetry can be inaccessible to those unfamiliar with its symbolic roots.
![“[Poetry] was a form of incantation, a means of welding the world inside his head to the one that surrounded him, words the fiery chain that bound it all together.” quote by Elizabeth Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/266/elizabeth-hand-29627_art_poetry-was-a-form-of-incantation-a-means_826614.jpg)
