John W. Garvin

“ GREAT poets are the seers and prophets of a nation—of the world. Their function is to interpret life and nature in terms of beauty and passion, and through imagination and inspiration, reveal the Infinite and the True.
All writers of good verse cannot be great poets, and it is only the works of the latter that permanently endure; but those of minor qualities reflect and influence their own generation, and have an important mission in the evolution of national life. ”

“ To me, the spirit and content of an inspired poem is potential form; and in its natural verbal expression, of necessity organic. The inspiration shapes and perfects the form. This is why I regard the actual form as only, at most, equal in importance to what is expressed. ”

“ More and more are the poets realizing that the quality of beauty is universal; and hence that there is nothing in this subjective-objective world, outside the pale of artistic expression. More and more are they seeking themes of intense human interest, and striving for climaxes of spiritual beauty. ”