Alchemy is the art of far and near, and I think poetry is alchemy in that way. It's delightful to distort size, to see something that's tiny as though it were vast.

Summary

This quote, spoken by poet Anne Carson, suggests that poetry shares a commonality with alchemy. Just as alchemy seeks to transform substances and unlock hidden potentials, poetry has the ability to expand our perception of reality. Through the use of language and creative distortion of size, poetry can turn the small into the large, allowing us to see the immense significance in the seemingly insignificant. In this sense, poetry becomes a form of alchemy, enchanting us with its transformative power to enhance and magnify our understanding of the world.

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