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 186
... hath been accorded to the Polar Spirit , who returneth southward . Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion . Then like a pawing horse let go , She made a sudden bound : It flung the blood into my head , And I ...
... hath been accorded to the Polar Spirit , who returneth southward . Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion . Then like a pawing horse let go , She made a sudden bound : It flung the blood into my head , And I ...
Page 248
... Hath the rain a father ? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew ? 30 40 And out of whose womb came the ice ? 50 And the hoar frost of heaven , who hath gendered it ? The waters are hidden as with stone . And the face of the deep is ...
... Hath the rain a father ? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew ? 30 40 And out of whose womb came the ice ? 50 And the hoar frost of heaven , who hath gendered it ? The waters are hidden as with stone . And the face of the deep is ...
Page 249
... hath put wisdom in the inward parts ? Or who hath given understanding to the mind ? Who can number the clouds by wisdom , Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven ? When the dust runneth into a mass , And the clods cleave fast together ...
... hath put wisdom in the inward parts ? Or who hath given understanding to the mind ? Who can number the clouds by wisdom , Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven ? When the dust runneth into a mass , And the clods cleave fast together ...
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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ALFRED LORD TENNYSON ANDREW MARVELL ballad beauty beginning bird breath caesuras contrast conventional dark dead death detail Don John doth dream earth effect emotion English experience eyes fairy fear feeling garden hand hath heard heart heaven human idea imagery imagination John Donne JOHN KEATS John of Austria Keats kind King lady light lines live look meaning Milton mind Miss mood moon mother never night nightingale o'er once pattern phrase pleasure poem poet poet's prayer prose reader reading poetry rest rhythm rime rose seems Shakespeare ship sing Sir Patrick Spens sleep song sonnet soul sound spirit stars story stress Suggestions sweet syllables tears thee thine things Thomas Rymer thou thought Three Ravens tree turn verse voice WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WILLIAM WORDSWORTH wind words