1904
The World's Best Poetry
Vol. X
POETICAL QUOTATIONS
AFTER ALL, WHAT IS POETRY
By
JOHN R. HOWARD
* * * * *
AFTER ALL, WHAT IS POETRY?
BY JOHN RAYMOND HOWARD.
Considering the immense volume of poetical writing produced, and lost or accumulated, by all nations through the ages, it is of curious interest that no generally accepted definition of the word "Poetry" has ever been made. Of course, all versifiers aim at "poetry"; yet, what is poetry?
Many definitions have been attempted. Some of these would exclude work by poets whom the world agrees to call great; others would shut out elements that are undeniably poetic; still others, while not excluding, do not positively include much that must be recognized as within the poetical realm. In brief, all are more or less partial.