Thomas Hardy: 'Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art.'

Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art.

The quote by Thomas Hardy, 'Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art,' encapsulates the essence of poetic creation. It suggests that while the true source of poetic expression lies in the raw and genuine emotions that come naturally to the poet, the mastery of poetic form and structure can be achieved through deliberate artistry. This quote highlights the delicate balance between inspiration and technique that is necessary for the creation of powerful and evocative poetry.Hardy's quote emphasizes the inherent connection between poetry and emotion. Poetry, at its core, is a means of expressing and conveying emotions. It is a medium through which the poet can delve into the depths of their soul and convey their innermost feelings to the reader. True poetic expression arises from a genuine emotional experience, as emotions bring richness, depth, and authenticity to the written word.However, Hardy goes beyond acknowledging the importance of emotion in poetry and highlights the significance of the measure, or form, in poetic artistry. The measure, in this context, refers to the structured elements of poetry such as meter, rhyme, rhythm, and other literary devices. A poet's ability to effectively utilize these techniques is what distinguishes a masterful poem from mere emotional ramblings.The idea that the measure can be acquired by art introduces a fascinating philosophical concept - the interplay between creativity and structure. How can the raw, untamed emotions that form the heart of poetic expression be reconciled with the deliberate and calculated craftsmanship required to form a poem? It is a delicate dance between spontaneity and structure, a harmonization of the natural and the cultivated.This philosophical concept is not unique to poetry but can be observed in various aspects of life. Consider the relationship between chaos and order, spontaneity and discipline, or freedom and restraint. In music, improvised solos are enhanced by a deep understanding of scales and chords. In painting, artistic freedom is rooted in an understanding of composition and color theory. The same can be said for poetry.The unexpected nature of this philosophical concept adds intrigue and depth to the discourse surrounding Hardy's quote. It prompts us to question the role of creativity, technique, and structure in the artistic process. Is it necessary to acquire the measure through art to truly unlock the potential of our emotions? Or can poetry in its purest form arise solely from the unfiltered expression of our feelings?In exploring these questions, we find that the interplay between emotion and measure in poetry is a dynamic partnership. The emotions provide the raw material, the driving force behind the poem, while the measure acts as the vessel that carries and shapes these emotions into something tangible. Through artful manipulation of the measure, a poet can elevate their emotions, transforming them into a seminal piece of literature that resonates with the reader.In conclusion, Thomas Hardy's quote, 'Poetry is emotion put into measure. The emotion must come by nature, but the measure can be acquired by art,' encapsulates the delicate relationship between feelings and craftsmanship in poetry. It acknowledges the necessity of genuine emotion as the foundation of poetic expression while asserting that the masterful control of poetic form and structure can be acquired through deliberate artistic endeavor. By bringing together spontaneous emotion and deliberate technique, poets harness the power to create impactful and timeless works of art that speak to the depths of human experience.