The Art of Reading PoetryI do not believe that poetry is mysterious or esoteric. It is for all who can read, who can call words, who have rhythm enough, by nature, so that a jazz orchestra sets feet and hands in motion. Likewise, this invitation is to all. But it is, especially, invitation to those regretfully convinced that poetry is not for them, and to those who think they prefer the unequivocating directness of prose. It is invitation to labor, and after labor, entrance upon pleasure "not to be chang'd by place or time," the peculiar pleasure which poetry is. - Invitation to reading. |
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Page 255
... nature itself . Their mistake is the opposite of an earlier , equally serious misunderstanding . Alexander Pope ... nature , applies right here if , in the first line , poetry be substituted for Nature . To him who in the love of Nature ...
... nature itself . Their mistake is the opposite of an earlier , equally serious misunderstanding . Alexander Pope ... nature , applies right here if , in the first line , poetry be substituted for Nature . To him who in the love of Nature ...
Page 389
... Nature led : more like a man Flying from something that he dreads , than one Who sought the thing he loved . For Nature then ( The coarser pleasures of my boyish days , And their glad animal movements all gone by ) To me was all in all ...
... Nature led : more like a man Flying from something that he dreads , than one Who sought the thing he loved . For Nature then ( The coarser pleasures of my boyish days , And their glad animal movements all gone by ) To me was all in all ...
Page 391
... Nature , hither came Unwearied in that service : rather say With warmer love - oh ! with far deeper zeal Of holier love . Nor wilt thou then forget , That after many wanderings , many years Of absence , these steep woods and lofty ...
... Nature , hither came Unwearied in that service : rather say With warmer love - oh ! with far deeper zeal Of holier love . Nor wilt thou then forget , That after many wanderings , many years Of absence , these steep woods and lofty ...
Contents
OUTLINE FOR A DEFENSE | 1 |
LIONS IN THE PATH | 23 |
THE READING AND THE READINGS OF THE POEM | 39 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
appear attention ballad beauty become beginning better break close comes contrast dead death detail dream earth effect emotion English example experience expression eyes fall fear feeling figure garden give hand heard heart human idea imagination important interesting John keep kind lady land leave less light lines live look matter meaning mind Miss move nature never night Notice once passed pattern pleasure poem poet poet's poetry probably prose reader reason rest rhythm rime rose seems sense ship sing sleep song sonnet soul sound spirit stand stanza stars story stress Suggestions sweet tears tell thee things thou thought turn understanding verse voice wind write written