Quote by Jennifer Worth
Her religious poetry was surprisingly slender, and as I was eager to know more about her religion, I asked her about this aspect of her poetry. She replied with these lines from Keats' Ode to a Grecian Urn: 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty'--that is all Ye know on eath, and all ye need to know'. Do not ask me to immortalise the great Mystery of Life. I am just a humble worker. For beauty, look to the Pslams, to Isaiah, to St. John of the Cross. How could my poor pen scan such verse? For truth, look to the Gospels-- four short accounts of God made Man. There is nothing more to say.
Summary
The quote explains a conversation between the speaker and a poet who was asked about the religious aspect of her poetry. In response, the poet quotes lines from Keats' Ode to a Grecian Urn: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"—that is all one needs to know in life. The poet then humbly admits to being just a worker who cannot capture the immensity of the great Mystery of Life in their poetry. For matters of beauty, the poet suggests turning to the Psalms, Isaiah, and St. John of the Cross, while for matters of truth, the Gospels provide sufficient guidance. Thus, the quote encapsulates the poet's acknowledgement of her limitations and points towards existing religious texts for deeper understanding.
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
