from Adagia

Wallace Steven’s ‘from Adagia’ was very amazing to read. His approach towards poetry is very unique and maybe too a certain extent, even disturbing. He exemplifies the importance of poetry by comparing it to religion on several occasions.

“But poetry is like prayer in that it is most effective in solitude and in the times of solitude as, for example, in the earliest morning”

He seems to suggest in this quotation that poetry can be recited in the same manner as some people recite prayers. Early on in the morning, when the busy activities of the day haven’t caught up with life yet, and life is still quiet and peaceful, seems to be the best time to remember God. He compares that feeling of serenity analogously to the feeling experienced when reciting poetry.

He also states that ‘it is the belief and not the god that counts’ which clearly shows that his belief may not be in a God but is rather in a higher power. His feelings seem to be more spiritual rather than religious. He believe that the mind is the most powerful thing in the world whereas it seems to me that God is the most powerful thing in the world and your mind is what can take you there.

He compares the poet to God as readers of religious texts and poetry share the same intention of deciphering the meaning of life and discovering the truth. This comparison seems to me a little bit extreme as poetry may just be a hobby or just a past time for some. Religion of course has a different and more meaningful purpose.