“For the poet, each word represents sound and meaning; the music of meaning is shaped by words that fall left or right of a single word. Each word is an increment of the whole. Perhaps we are drawn to poetry because language vibrates (is an action), and we seem to search still for a language that will keep us whole.” — Yusef Komunyakaa
—From “Kit & Caboodle,” an essay included in The Eye of the Poet: Six Views of the Art and Craft of Poetry, edited by David Citino (Oxford University Press, 2002).
[“An Elegant Epigraph” serves as the recurring title for a continuing series of posts with entries containing brief but engaging, eloquent, and elegant excerpts of prose commentary introducing subjects particularly appropriate to discussion of literature, creative writing, or other relevant matters addressing complementary forms of art and music. These apposite extracts usually concern topics relating to poetry or poetics. Each piece is accompanied by a recommendation that readers seek out the original publication to obtain further information and to become familiar with the complete context in which the chosen quotation appeared as well as additional views presented by its author.]
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