It is the job of poetry to clean up our word-clogged reality by creating silences around things.
Stephane MallarmeRead
As for me, Poetry takes the place of love, because it is enamored of itself, and because this self-lust has a delightful dying fall in my soul.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Poetry fulfills the emotional void of love, capturing an intense self-love that resonates deeply within.
In this quote, Mallarme suggests that poetry serves as a substitute for romantic love, emphasizing its self-referential quality. He appreciates poetry's ability to evoke deep emotional experiences, equating its beauty and intensity with the passionate feelings usually reserved for love, suggesting that this relationship with poetry provides a unique fulfillment in his soul.
Themes
PoetryLoveSelf-LoveEmotionArt
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about the relationship between poetry and personal experiences of love.
More from Stephane Mallarme
All quotes βThe pure work implies the disappearance of the poet as speaker, who hands over to the words.
Stephane MallarmeRead
The poetic act consists of suddenly seeing that an idea splits up into a number of equal motifs and of grouping them; they rhyme.
Stephane MallarmeRead
A soul trembling to sit by a hearth so bright, To exist again, itβs enough if I borrow from Your lips the breath of my name you murmur all night.
Stephane MallarmeRead
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