Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.

Summary

This quote suggests that poetry has the power to enhance prose by adding beauty and elegance to it. It implies that poetry, with its rhythmic and artistic language, can transform mundane or straightforward ideas into a more pleasing and harmonious form of expression. It highlights the creative and effortful process of crafting poetry as a means to elevate ordinary writing into something more engaging and captivating.