Saturday Poet Feature

My featured poet for today is Archibald Macleish.

This man just flat out knows how to put words together. I've been reading a bunch of his stuff lately and each poem seems to have its own subtle word trend that is just aimed at sounding awesome. Here's one of his more famous poems, but honestly, if you look this guy up you will find a lot more good stuff like this.

Ars Poetica
by Archibald MacLeish
A poem should be palpable and mute As a globed fruit, Dumb As old medallions to the thumb, Silent as the sleeve-worn stone Of casement ledges where the moss has grown— A poem should be wordless As the flight of birds. * A poem should be motionless in time As the moon climbs, Leaving, as the moon releases Twig by twig the night-entangled trees, Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves, Memory by memory the mind— A poem should be motionless in time As the moon climbs. * A poem should be equal to: Not true. For all the history of grief An empty doorway and a maple leaf. For love The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea— A poem should not mean But be.