A poem should 'Be'

 

“What is more important in a librarythan anything else - than everything else - is the fact that it exists.” –Archibald MacLeish

 

MacLeish, born in Glencoe, IL on May7, 1892, has been called “One of the hundred most influential figures in librarianshipduring the 20th century.” As the 9th U.S. Librarian of Congress – apost he held for 5 years – he was instrumental in establishing the U.S. PoetLaureate position, which he himself easily could have held, being the winner oftwo Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.  He alsowon a Pulitzer for his Tony-winning Broadway play J.B. – a modernday re-telling of the Book of Job.

 

“Poetry,” he said, “is concernedwith feelings; the ‘feel’ of the world.”  For Saturday’s Poem, here are lines from MacLeish’s,

 

Ars Poetica

Apoem should be wordless a sthe flight of birds.

Apoem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs

A poem should be equal to:
Not true.

For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf.

For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea –

A poem should not mean
But be.