Poetry

Poetry is imitation at two removes from reality; the poet competes with the philosopher and must be banished from the just city.

Poetry is the craft of plot-making; the poet deals in universals, and a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility.

Poetry is theological allegory; the poet's vision can unite the philosophical and the prophetic.

Poetry serves divine truth; the epic poet justifies the ways of God to men and surpasses the classical models.

Poetic beauty is a matter of sentiment, not reason; yet there are standards of taste grounded in human nature.

Poetry is the highest of the fine arts; it conducts a free play of imagination as if it were a serious business of understanding.

Poetry is the universal art; it passes through symbolic, classical, and romantic phases as Spirit realizes itself in sensuous form.

Art must communicate sincere feeling and serve the moral brotherhood of humanity; most celebrated art fails this test.

Poetry is feeling confessing itself in moments of solitude; it is overheard, not heard, and stands opposed to eloquence.