Sunday, April 10, 2005
Poetry Month Quote - April 10
"Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things." ~T.S. Eliot, Tradition and Individual Talent, 1919
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2 comments:
I agree that poetry can be used to escape from personality and emotion. But I also think it can be used to explore them too. I think Eliot is only half-right here.
I believe that is what Eliot is saying here. I don't believe he means escape leaving the personality or emotion behind. I think it is rather the ability to step out of the box and view it from above.. or below, or where ever, but to be able to recognize it from an external view rather then just feeling the internal.
It is this very reason I believe poetry can be quite therapeutic.
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