"Deep feeling doesn't make for good poetry. A way with language would be a bit of help"

Thom Gunn's quote, "Deep feeling does not make for good poetry. A way with language would be a bit of assistance", succinctly communicates a profound insight into the craft of poetry. At first glance, it can be unexpected or even counterintuitive due to the fact that the heart of poetry is typically presumed to be rooted in deep feeling and feeling. Nevertheless, Gunn challenges this concept by suggesting that raw emotion alone is inadequate to craft efficient poetry.

The first part of the quote stresses that while deep feelings can motivate poetry, they do not always translate into excellent poetry. This points to the idea that emotions, though effective, frequently need to be filtered, structured, and articulated through experienced use of language. Unmediated emotion can lead to expression that is either too unclear or too personal to resonate widely or enable readers to engage and relate. Poetry, as an art form, has to do with interaction and evocation, and thus relies greatly on the poet's ability to form and harness language.

The second part, "A method with language would be a little aid", underscores the significance of linguistic skill in poetry. This reflects the belief that poetry is as much about the how as it is about the what. Language is the medium through which feelings and concepts are expressed and understood. A poet's facility with language-- with its subtleties, rhythms, sounds, and structures-- is essential in changing raw feeling into a crafted piece that speaks beyond the instant and personal to record something more universal or profound.

Gunn's quote ultimately underscores the duality necessary in poetry: the eagerness of emotion tempered by the discipline of craft. This balance permits poets to not just reveal their own sensations however to evoke emotions and reflections in their readers, developing a bridge in between personal experience and universal understanding. Therefore, in the realm of poetry, feeling and language must coexist symbiotically to achieve work that resonates deeply and withstands.