Accuracy:
Can exactitude remain intact
after the poet's eyes and ears
after neural pathways and pen
have spattered it all on paper ?
Surely this forswears the matrix
of correction. Yet if the aim never wavers
if the intended path once taken
is kept, line by line, then it is so
and so much more than just the mot juste.
It flies like an arrow to the target, clearly heard
cutting the airwaves with precision.
Spontaneity
They rarely float to the surface
as dreamers out of sleep
or in a sudden spring of surprise
pop ready-made to consciousness.
And being no automaton, the poet takes
no dictation from a Muse nor outruns thought
in pursuit of purity. Though there is a hunt;
an undercover intent within pretence,
fielding a voice, skilful as breath,
to soft soap structure yet keep the impulse
throbbing .
Mystery
It is not meant to be an obfuscation puzzle
unless poseurs commend polysemy.
But the figurative must always feature
sonorous, alliterative for tongue and ear
a clear grasp of words even before minds
can apprehend, or a running along lines
in time to beats gathered in the womb.
Poetic mastery is mystery, a tracery woven
in intimate and unexpected encounters
as with a unicorn
For Dora’s Poetics prompt “Borrowing Bishop” we are writing to the three qualities that Elizabeth Bishop outlined as poetry she liked best. I have delineated them as a kind of Ars Poetica of ingredients. The title is taken from a line of her poem “Crusoe in England”
PoetryPix 
You’ve taken Bishop’s poetic strictures in stride, Laura, metaphysical strides, that is, that showcase your own voice full of philosophical reflection on the poetic craft itself. What a delight to follow your thoughts as they lead, each stanza, to an immensely satisfying conclusion!
thank you Dora – I was stuck as to how to tackle this one so went analytical – happy you can hear the undertones though too
First, by concept, brilliant…..”splattered on paper…” Indeed, philosophy presented then thrown down hard. Introspective poetry like this better be good, otherwise it fails. Here their is real philosophy,..”skillful as breath…” stunningly done.
Ain – your feedback is very much appreciated – always comprehensive and so encouraging
I admire your Ars Poetica approach to the prompt, Laura, and how you took a line from a Bishop poem as your title and then began with a question about accuracy. Your exploration of the poet’s hunt and the mystery grabbed me. I look forward to further ‘unexpected encounters as with a unicorn’.
thank you Kim – I tried to understand her 3 points for poetry with this and hope I came somewhere near though the unicorn’s entry really was an unexpected encounter!
My pleasure, Laura. Your poem helped me to understand Bishop’s three points better.
This is sheer poetic brilliance, Laura! I was blown away by the gorgeousness of this part especially; “They rarely float to the surface as dreamers out of sleep,” .. ❤️❤️
thank you Sanaa – that line reminds me of your poems which so often have that touch of other worldliness
Laura, written with skill, I echo what Kim says. Encore on the unicorn encounters.
many thanks Lisa – the mythic is for mystics is for poets!
You’re very welcome ❤
This is delightful, Laura
thank you for being so delighted Roberta
Hi Laura. Such intriguing poems. I read and reread them, liking your thoughts about poetry and enjoying how you have dressed them for us. I’m glad you ‘went analytical’ as you put it above, and equally delighted that you were gate-crashed by that unicorn! J
thank you John for the re-reads- the aim was to qualify what Bishop meant coupled with my own understanding as dressing – I since found some useful info on Bishop’s analysis and “the difficulty of combining the real with the decidedly un-real” see here
That’s fascinating (I mean the article quoting Bishop’s own thoughts about poetry). Thanks!