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I saw the gooseflesh on my skin. I did not know what made it. I was not cold. Had a ghost passed over? No, it was the poetry.
Sylvia Plath
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses an intense emotional reaction to poetry, likening it to a supernatural experience.

Sylvia Plath uses vivid imagery to describe the powerful effect poetry has on her, conveying the idea that it can elicit deep, almost ghostly sensations. The gooseflesh, typically associated with coldness or fear, here arises from the beauty and impact of the poetic experience, illustrating that poetry stirs profound emotions within us.

Themes

PoetryEmotionBeautyExperienceExpression

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a poetry reading to express the deep feelings poetry can evoke.

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...we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till death shatters the fabulous stars and makes us real.
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