"A very intimate sense of the expressiveness of outward things, which ponders, listens, penetrates, where the earlier, less developed consciousness passed lightly by, is an important element in the general temper of our modern poetry"

This quote by Walter Pater talks with the value of the contemporary poet's capacity to observe and analyze the world around them. He recommends that modern-day poets have a heightened awareness of the expressiveness of the globe, as well as have the ability to dive much deeper into the meaning of things than their predecessors. This ability to contemplate, pay attention, and penetrate the world around them is a vital part of the contemporary poet's craft. Pater's words recommend that contemporary poets have the ability to record the beauty and also intricacy of the world in a manner that was not possible prior to. They have the ability to put in the time to value the subtleties of the world, and also to express them in their job. This heightened sense of observation as well as analysis is a fundamental part of the modern poet's craft, and also is necessary to developing purposeful and powerful poetry.