Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry,_x000D_ Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam_x000D_ And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.
Richard WilburRead
It is true that the poet does not directly address his neighbors; but he does address a great congress of persons who dwell at the back of his mind, a congress of all those who have taught him and whom he has admired; they constitute his ideal audience and his better self.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The poet communicates not just with those around him but with a deeper audience of influences and ideals.
In this quote, Richard Wilbur highlights the idea that a poet's true audience is not merely the physical people around him but rather an internal assembly of inspirations and admired figures that shape his creative expression. This 'congress' represents the ideals and teachings that inform the poet's work, suggesting that art is a conversation with one's own better self and the legacy of those who have influenced us.
Themes
PoetAudienceInfluenceArtistic ExpressionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the role of poetry in society during a literature class.
More from Richard Wilbur
All quotes →I would feel dead if I didn't have the ability periodically to put my world in order with a poem. I think to be inarticulate is a great suffering, and is especially so to anyone who has a certain knack for poetry.
Richard WilburRead
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