“First I think that a poem must be magic
And enchant both the corp’ral* and the psychic
It must hold all the warm flames from a coal
And explore all the depths and heights of a soul.
Then methinks that a poem must be gaiety
A bridge ‘tween th’ elite and the laity
It must hold all a palace’s silver-gold features
And the silver-gold depths of all of God’s creatures.
I think thirdly a poem must have meaning
And to all and to one be that poetry’s leaning
It must feel all humanity’s feelings
And with life and with love may it be teeming.
And over this mountain of great fantasy
Which is written or read by me and by thee
I wish that, between those punctuations and lines
God our Father be seen in those stanzas and lines.“
(*Corp’ral-corporal. Pertaining to the body)
