I believe that the short story is as different a form from the novel as poetry is, and the best stories seem to me to be perhaps closer in spirit to poetry than to novels.

Summary

In this quote, the author suggests that the short story is a unique literary form, distinct from the novel. They compare it to poetry, emphasizing its brevity and the importance of capturing a sense of poetic essence. The author implies that the finest short stories possess a certain lyrical quality that sets them apart from novels.

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