The Daily Poem Archibald MacLeish's "Ars Poetica"
Nov 19, 2025
Explore Archibald MacLeish's intriguing poem, where form and content intertwine brilliantly. Delve into how its language echoes the principle that poetry should show rather than tell. Discover the captivating moments of stillness depicted through the repeated imagery of the moon. Engage with the idea that a poem ought to exist as an experience rather than convey truth. Reflect on the tension between analysis and imagination in appreciating poetry, reinforced by a second reading of the work.
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Form Mirrors Theory
- MacLeish's poem models its own theory by pairing abstract claims with concrete imagery.
- Sean Johnson notes the poem's language and structure illustrate the argument that poetry should show rather than tell.
Contrast Creates Meaning
- The poem alternates simple example lines with denser theoretical lines to make its point audible.
- Johnson emphasizes that contrast drives home the difference between thinking about art and executing it.
Pope Versus MacLeish
- Johnson compares MacLeish's approach with Alexander Pope's denser, heady criticism as a contrastive example.
- He uses the 'globed fruit' image to show how MacLeish's lines roll off the tongue smoothly unlike Pope's complexity.
