Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ars Poetica" by Rita Dove presents a contemplative reflection on the nature of creativity and the poet's aspirations for their work. This poem, embodying the traditional concept of "Ars Poetica" (Latin for "the art of poetry"), explores what it means to create art and what the poet hopes to achieve through their poetry.

The poem starts with a scene that captures the vast, empty expanses of Wyoming, a metaphorical representation of the blank page or the daunting start of a creative endeavor. The "unknown but terribly important essayist" who yells "Stop! I wanna be in this" symbolizes the urge to engage directly with the raw, unmediated experience of life, an impulse often felt by artists. However, his immediate retreat upon encountering the overwhelming emptiness of the landscape humorously underscores the challenges and fears that accompany the act of creation—facing 'nothing' can be as terrifying as it is essential for an artist.

Dove contrasts this experience with an anecdote about an Australian novelist who avoids cooking to conserve his creative energy, prioritizing his art to the exclusion of almost everything else. This character's approach to art is marked by discipline and isolation, as he "stacked up pages" and "entered each day with an ax," suggesting a methodical, perhaps even aggressive, penetration into the depths of the creative process.

The poet then shifts the focus to her own poetic aspirations. Dove expresses a desire for the poem to be "small, a ghost town / on the larger map of wills." This imagery evokes a sense of quiet, unassuming presence—a minimal yet poignant mark on the vast landscape of literature and human experience. She likens herself to a hawk, a keen observer soaring high above, detached yet sharply attentive, a "traveling x-marks-the-spot." This metaphor captures the poet's role as both a part of and apart from the world, observing and marking realities in ways that are subtle but significant.

Overall, "Ars Poetica" reflects on the varied approaches to creativity and the existential realities of making art. Dove uses vivid imagery and juxtaposes different characters to explore how artists negotiate their engagement with the world. Through this poem, she articulates a vision of poetry as a space of minimal but meaningful intervention, where the poet aspires to leave a mark that is both light and profound. The poem itself becomes a meta-poetic exploration of the poet's desire for her work to resonate quietly yet enduringly within the broader human conversation.

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