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"Poetry is not personal"

by W. Mahlon Purdin

Poetry is not personal
In the sense of sneezing;
It's far more personal
Than that.

It's personal in a way
That spans personality
Or a flash of insight,
Like a last breath.

A poet looks at a moment
And sees eternal infinity,
Others read the words,
And see themselves.

01/15/2005

Posted on 06/04/2013
Copyright © 2026 W. Mahlon Purdin

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by George Hoerner on 06/04/13 at 11:29 AM

I'm not so sure. A sneeze is a reflex of a sort and see writing as much the same. We react to something of which we may not even be aware just as a sneeze comes at times when we least expect it. Still I enjoyed the read.

Posted by Steve Michaels on 06/04/13 at 01:08 PM

I agree with you in that I don't consider poetry to be an involuntary reflex like sneezing. That last stanza definitely sums it up.

Posted by Rob Littler on 08/17/13 at 03:13 PM

...sneezing is very personal, and spreadable, and transmittable, I have sneezed on or secondarily touched a sneezed-on surface many more times than I have been read, or caught the common "poem" so to speak. Personal reactions, reading words, seeing imagery, and thinking about the self in light of the integrity of the experience is what makes art great. The larger ideas, the recognition of otherness, the expression of will, and the opportunity to learn and apply, are what is great about making art.

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