"The poet's other readers are the ancient poets, who look upon the freshly written pages from an incorruptible distance. Their poetic forms are permanent, and it is difficult to create new forms which can approach them"
About this Quote
Salvatore Quasimodo's quote reflects a profound meditation on the relationship between contemporary poets and the canonical voices of the past. At its core, the declaration recommends a double readership for any poet: the audience of today and the age-old poets of history. These ancient poets are metaphorically described as observing from an "incorruptible range", indicating both a spatial and temporal separation that approves them an untouchable, nearly magnificent status in the pantheon of literature.
The "freshly written pages" of the existing poet are juxtaposed with the developed "poetic forms" of these ancient predecessors, which Quasimodo characterizes as "long-term". This permanence could symbolize the long-lasting impact and relevance of classic forms and themes, which have actually held up against the test of time and continue to form the landscape of poetry. The difficulty, Quasimodo implies, lies in the production of brand-new poetic types that can stand along with the grandeur of these historic designs, an undertaking that is naturally filled with trouble owing to the deeply established nature of traditional aesthetic appeals.
Quasimodo's reflection might stimulate the stress and anxiety of impact - a term created by literary critic Harold Bloom - where contemporary poets need to come to grips with the weighty tradition of the past. The "incorruptible range" works as both a source of inspiration and intimidation; the ancient poets, having accomplished a form of literary immortality, set a high bar for innovation and excellence. The contemporary poet should browse this legacy, finding a way to honor custom while concurrently pressing the boundaries to articulate something new and resonant.
In essence, Quasimodo captures the everlasting tension and discussion in between historic reverence and innovative development. The job for any poet is to engage with this "distance" and these long-term forms in such a way that pays tribute yet still attempts to diverge, to catch something uniquely reflective of their own time and experience. The quote is a reminder of the long-lasting cycle of poetic development, where each generation contributes to a progressing tapestry of language and expression.
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