"Ars Poetica" by Archibald Macleish
b'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.'