"Ars Poetica" by Archibald Macleish
Ars Poetica\nBY ARCHIBALD MACLEISH\nA poem should be palpable and mute \nAs a globed fruit,\n\nDumb\nAs old medallions to the thumb,\n\nSilent as the sleeve-worn stone\nOf casement ledges where the moss has grown\u2014\n\nA poem should be wordless \nAs the flight of birds.\n\n * \n\nA poem should be motionless in time \nAs the moon climbs,\n\nLeaving, as the moon releases\nTwig by twig the night-entangled trees,\n\nLeaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves, \nMemory by memory the mind\u2014\n\nA poem should be motionless in time \nAs the moon climbs.\n\n * \n\nA poem should be equal to:\nNot true.\n\nFor all the history of grief\nAn empty doorway and a maple leaf.\n\nFor love\nThe leaning grasses and two lights above the sea\u2014\n\nA poem should not mean \nBut be.