"If a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act"

In this quote, A. E. Housman encapsulates the extensive, visceral effect that poetry can have on a person. When Housman describes a "line of poetry" wandering off into his memory, he recommends the uncontrolled and sudden nature of poetic recollection. It's as if these lines, maybe long inactive, emerge spontaneously and unexpectedly, like an unbidden visitor that nevertheless holds terrific significance. This abrupt recall is not merely a cognitive exercise; rather, it moves him on a deeply emotional level.

The phrase "my skin bristles" indicates a physical reaction to the remembered poetry, encapsulating how art can transcend simple intellectual appreciation. For Housman, poetry stimulates a sensory experience so effective that it produces a shiver or goosebumps, a universal human response to extensive feeling or awe. This response highlights the powerful psychological resonance that art, particularly poetry, can provoke. It highlights the capability of words, rhythm, and imagery to pierce through the ordinary and touch something important within us.

Housman's additional elaboration, "so that the razor ceases to act", metaphorically records the all-consuming nature of this experience. The act of shaving is typically regular, needing attention and care. Yet, when overwhelmed by the emotional surge initiated by the memory of poetry, even such a basic, daily action pauses. This shows how deeply art can penetrate, stopping the mundane processes of life and commanding one's full attention.

Through this imagery, Housman magnificently shows poetry's capability to stimulate extensive emotional and physiological actions. It functions as a testament to the power of language and the arts, declaring their ability to reach into the really core of our being, provoke introspection, and momentarily transport us beyond the common facets of existence. Poetic words hence end up being not simple lines however catalysts of improvement, reflection, and intimate personal revelation.