The speaker in this poem seems to be a poet, or an avid reader of poetry, who feels strongly about what poetry should mean for humankind. The speaker is likely Archibald MacLeish himself, who is obviously a poet.
In this poem, the concept of “A poem” is in some ways personified, or at least made into an entity that moves within the realm of the physical. This poetic choice enables MacLeish to explore how a poem should act or unfold for the mind and the senses.
The Question and Answer section for Ars Poetica is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
According to the speaker, a poem should be sensory and concrete, as well as silent, like a round fruit. It should be unthinking or natural, like a person playing with a medallion in their hand. The poem should be as silent as a window ledge...
The tone of the poem is passionate and thoughtful. This poem is a manifesto about what art should be. Encoded in this theme is the idea of interpretation, because a poem arguably does not become art until perceived by someone.
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