Wallace Stevens
The Paradox of the Absolute
|
The poet reflecting on his course, which is the same thing as a reflection by him and by us, on the course of poetry, will decide to do as the imagination bids, because he has no choice, if he is to remain a poet. Poetry is the imagination of life. Wallace Stevens, "The Figure of the Youth as a Virile Poet" |
|
This site links to a research paper that explores Wallace Stevens' poetry and prose in relation to the philosophies that informed his poetry, as well as Kenneth Burke's concept of the agent-scene ratio. I hope that this perspective can increase the appreciation of Stevens' incredible visions; it certainly has enhanced mine. |
| *a note on the above image, as well as those on the Stevens Poetry and Research Paper pages: these are permutations of a photograph of a peacock, altered on Photoshop by the author of this site, Elizabeth Hayes. The one above is supposed to look like the peacock feather "eyes" are floating on water. |
