"For the poet the credo or doctrine is not the point of arrival but is, on the contrary, the point of departure for the metaphysical journey"

In this compelling quote by Joseph Brodsky, the poet suggests that for a poet, belief systems or doctrines serve not as destinations, but as starts of a deeper exploration. The term "credo", or creed, frequently indicates a settled belief or ideology. Nevertheless, Brodsky challenges this standard concept by proposing that such beliefs are simply beginning points for poets. This point of view sets the foundation for understanding how poets engage with the world on an esoteric level.

The expression, "the point of arrival", usually suggests a conclusion or last understanding. Nevertheless, Brodsky argues that for poets, teachings and creeds do not represent this endpoint. Rather, they serve as "the point of departure". What Brodsky is highlighting here is the concept that poets perceive established beliefs as the foundation from which they launch an exploratory, reflective, and questioning journey. This journey is "metaphysical", suggesting a world that goes beyond the physical and delves into the abstract and philosophical.

Poetry, then, ends up being an expedition into the unidentified, a quest for much deeper facts that lie beyond the surface area of traditional beliefs and teachings. Instead of accepting creeds as definitive, poets utilize them as drivers for questioning, checking out, and eventually comprehending the complex nature of human existence. This interpretation aligns with the nature of poetry, a type that typically welcomes uncertainty, paradox, and open-endedness, motivating both the poet and the reader to examine and ponder intricate ideas and emotions.

Brodsky's quote eventually highlights the dynamic function of the poet as an intellectual and spiritual applicant. By conceptualizing doctrines as beginning points of query rather than endpoints of understanding, Brodsky highlights the transformative and investigative essence of poetry. It is a call to see poetry as a continuous journey that challenges recognized facts, inviting both poets and readers to take part in a perpetual dialogue with the secrets of life and presence.