Mark Strand: The Arduous Concept Of Poetry

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Poetry. A device used to express passion, lust, hate, sorrow, and all the other emotions we as humans may experience in our limited state. Poetry can be beautiful and graceful or dark and spooky. Poetry allows us to open up our minds and contemplate the most simplest of words and create the most grandiose ideas. Poetry has been used for centuries to deliver grace and dignity from one era to the next. However, simply stating this word causes some to cringe. We live in a society where many fear the unknown, and this arduous concept of poetry may infringe on such a mindset. Poems by Mark Strand and Marianne Moore look at poetry from different angles. Strand takes a peculiar stance towards poetry that definitely does not fit into the conventional…show more content…
Humans become a flustered mess when we go over or read something in which we do not understand fully. Poetry can be figurative or literal. “The poets among us can be/ ‘literalist of/ the imagination’”(Moore 21-22). Perhaps Moore felt as if in poetry, the poets themselves should literally state what they mean instead of using colorful words and complex language. Or perhaps she might agree with Strand’s stance on “Eating poetry.” He is simply not concerned with what others think of him or how they view him, “The librarian does not believe what she sees” (Strand 4). As the poem continues, it is clear to see that the speaker is not concerned with what others see him as, what they understand, or what they do not understand. He is content being in his own sort of twisted imagination where perhaps only his actions make sense to him. Both poets write in a manner that seems to agree with the notion that poetry is up to interpretation by reader. That is perhaps where many readers start to become aggravated when it comes to this type of poetry. Since we as humans seem to get a euphoric sensation when thoughts and ideas fall into boxes that are logical and follow social norms, when a situation does not “fit” or “make sense” we shake our head, grit our teeth, and say “This makes no sense!” But does it really? Should all poetry “make

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