"Poetry is fascinating. As soon as it begins the poetry has changed the thing into something extra, and somehow prose can go over into poetry"
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In Michael Tippett's quote, "Poetry is interesting. As quickly as it starts the poetry has actually changed the important things into something extra, and in some way prose can go over into poetry", we are invited to contemplate the transformative nature of poetry. Tippett discuss the nuanced boundary between prose and poetry, suggesting that the primary appeal of poetry depends on its capability to go beyond common language and affect the understanding of its topic.
From the initial assertion that "poetry is fascinating", Tippett underscores the inherent allure and intricacy of poetry. This fascination might come from poetry's density of significance, rhythm, and emotional resonance, which are typically condensed into fewer words than prose. Poetry has a capability to stimulate much deeper emotions and provoke thought, changing mundane language into something higher, something "additional", as Tippett explains.
The expression "as soon as it begins" suggests immediacy in this change. It indicates that poetry, by virtue of its type and structure, can quickly raise the normal to the extraordinary. This transformation is at the core of poetry's power; it can make us see the world anew, giving weight and beauty to words and images that may otherwise be neglected in daily interaction.
Tippett's observation that "prose can discuss into poetry" highlights the fluidity between these types. While prose is normally related to uncomplicated interaction, it can transition into poetry by adopting poetic devices like meter, rhyme, and metaphor. This metamorphosis can happen when prose embraces a heightened psychological or aesthetic quality, blurring the differences in between the 2 types. Tippett's use of "go over" indicates a smooth transition, underscoring the concept that the essence of poetry can penetrate any kind of composing, therefore elevating it.
In essence, Tippett's quote celebrates the transformative and transcendent qualities of poetry. It acknowledges the fluid boundary between prose and poetry, and the ability of both to raise human expression and understanding.
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