"So it is in poetry. All we ask is that the mood recorded shall impress us as having been of the kind that exhausts the imaginative capacity; if it fails to do this the failure will announce itself either in prose or in insignificant verse"

John Drinkwater's quote explores the essence of poetry, underscoring the significance of emotional depth and creative engagement. The declaration begins with an example, comparing the production of poetry to a wider existential or creative procedure. In this context, Drinkwater suggests that poetry should venture to capture state of minds or emotions so potent that they completely consume the poet's imaginative faculties.

The expression "the state of mind tape-recorded shall impress us" highlights the importance of stimulating a visceral response. Poetry, according to Drinkwater, need to not merely explain emotions or circumstances ostensibly. Instead, it needs to immerse both the poet and the reader in a profound emotional experience. This method demands that the poet use their complete tank of imagination and sensation, developing a work that resonates deeply and authentically.

Drinkwater's usage of the term "tires the creative capacity" shows that the innovative process in poetry is one that pushes the borders of what can be expressed. This fatigue is not an unfavorable state; rather, it symbolizes the complete and overall use of one's creative power to capture and convey an emotion or idea. A poem that accomplishes this successfully provides a reflection of truth that is more extreme, significant, and impactful.

In contrast, if a poem stops working to do this-- if it does not totally engage with and utilize the poet's imaginative capability-- it lessens into simple prose or "unimportant verse". This is not to undermine prose, however in this context, it recommends that poetry, by its nature, need to transcend regular language. Unimportant verse, then, is a failure to reach the creative heights that poetry distinctively helps with. Drinkwater's commentary is a call to poets to accept their imagination completely and pursue the profound, honoring the art of poetry by guaranteeing that it is both impactful and significant.