A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion, but then so is all poetry, and to suppose that there are several kinds of poetry, differing from each other in essence, is to be deceived by wholly artificial divisions which have no real being. John Drinkwater artificialdeceivediffer share on social
It is commonly asserted and accepted that Paradise Lost is among the two or three greatest English poems; it may justly be taken as the type of supreme poetic achievement in our literature. John Drinkwater acceptachievementassert Change image and share on social
The poet's perfect expression is the token of a perfect experience; what he says in the best possible way he has felt in the best possible way, that is, completely. John Drinkwater completelyexperienceexpression Change image and share on social
To take an analogy: if we say that a democratic government is the best kind of government, we mean that it most completely fulfills the highest function of a government - the realisation of the will of the people. John Drinkwater analogycompletelydemocratic share on social
There can be no proof that Blake's lyric is composed of the best words in the best order; only a conviction, accepted by our knowledge and judgment, that it is so. John Drinkwater acceptblakecompose Change image and share on social
Poetry is the communication through words of certain experiences that can be communicated in no other way. John Drinkwater communicatecommunicationexperience Change image and share on social
It should here be added that poetry habitually takes the form of verse. John Drinkwater addformhabitually Change image and share on social
For while the subjects of poetry are few and recurrent, the moods of man are infinitely various and unstable. It is the same in all arts. John Drinkwater artinfinitelyman Change image and share on social
But in the finished art of the song the use of words has no connection with the use of words in poetry. John Drinkwater artconnectionfinish Change image and share on social
