But the gravest difficulty, and perhaps the most important, in poetry meant solely for recitation, is the difficulty of achieving verbal beauty, or rather of making verbal beauty tell.

Summary

This quote suggests that the greatest challenge in poetry intended to be recited aloud is the task of both creating verbal beauty and ensuring that this beauty is effectively conveyed to the audience. It implies that mere aesthetic appeal of words is insufficient, as the poet must also consider how these beautiful words can effectively communicate the intended message or emotion. In this context, the quote asserts the significance of effectively balancing the artistry of language with the communication of meaning in spoken poetry.

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