When the brain gets as dry as an empty nut,
When the reason stands on its squarest toes,
When the mind (like a beard) has a "formal cut,"--
There is a place and enough for the pains of prose;
But whenever the May-blood stires and glows,
And the young year draws to the "golden prime,"
And Sir Romeo sticks in his ear a rose,--
Then hey! for the ripple of laughing rhyme!
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Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.
Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.
Prose--words in their best order;--poetry--the best words in
their best order.
Prose--words in their best order;--poetry--the best words in
their best order.
It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.
It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.
The finest poetry was first experience.
The finest poetry was first experience.
However, if a poem can be reduced to a prose sentence, there can't be much to it.
However, if a poem can be reduced to a prose sentence, there can't be much to it.
A poem conveys not a message so much as the provenance of a message, an advent of sense.
A poem conveys not a message so much as the provenance of a message, an advent of sense.
The great function of poetry is to give back to us the situations of our dreams.
The great function of poetry is to give back to us the situations of our dreams.
Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.
Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.
Poetry is all nouns and verbs.
Poetry is all nouns and verbs.
