"A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion, but then so is all poetry, and to suppose that there are several kinds of poetry, differing from each other in essence, is to be deceived by wholly artificial divisions which have no real being"

In this quote, John Drinkwater challenges the standard classification of poetry by highlighting its fundamental essence-- the expression of individual emotion. At the heart of his statement is the concept that all poetry, despite the label it carries, springs from the exact same well of human feeling, rendering traditional distinctions synthetic.

He begins by acknowledging the typical understanding that a lyric poem is specifically defined by its individual and emotional nature. Generally, lyric poetry is indeed defined by its expression of individual feelings, frequently in a musical way. Nevertheless, Drinkwater extends this characteristic to all poetry, recommending that every poem, whether it be epic, narrative, significant, or otherwise, is rooted in the poet's emotional experience. Simply put, he argues that the essence of all poetry is emotion, making the emotional quality not unique to lyrics.

Moving even more, Drinkwater critiques the propensity to produce distinct categories of poetry as if they inherently differ in essence. He suggests that such divisions are constructed instead of naturally happening. From his perspective, these classifications mislead us, diverting our attention from the universal emotional core that all types of poetry share. In calling these distinctions "completely synthetic", Drinkwater invites us to see poetry as a unified art type. He suggests that these labels and categories can restrict our appreciation and understanding of poetry by producing unneeded borders.

In summary, Drinkwater's quote is a suggestion that at its core, poetry is a particular art of conveying human feeling. By dissolving artificial borders, he promotes for a more comprehensive and more inclusive appreciation of poetry in all its forms, encouraging readers and authors alike to concentrate on the shared psychological experience rather than the restraints of genre.