By the end of this post we would have reached the end of our brief exploration of poetic order and applications of its framework towards living a whole and beautiful life.

Only a few more notes need be made in regards to aesthetics, failure, and an example of a “test” for beauty in poetry.

(As with most posts on this blog, this is a work-in-progress; it would be interesting to see how time and experience would affect my perspective on the whole topic.)

Aesthetics

Quoting from Gabriel:

“Poetic Order reveals why a poem is experienced as whole and alive, why a poem is
experienced as a poem and not as doggerel.

Aesthetics is cultural, social, personal, or political and is experienced separate from Poetic Order.

Aesthetics and culture determine the choice of centers and where they are placed; for
example, the choice of formal verse supplies centers through metrical and rhyme schemes.

Poetic order determines whether the poem which is a center of centers is whole and alive.”

Here is what the equation looks like, with explainers:

Source

As such, we come to these notes on what aesthetics might  mean in a given poem:

  • A poem of any aesthetics can be beautiful, provided that it does have a sort of cohesion within the “style” or presentation of the work.
  • A poem without poetic order cannot be beautiful—poetic order is necessary to beauty, which really is the argument that we’ve been building throughout the series so far.
  • A poem of the “wrong” aesthetics with poetic order might be perceived as not beautiful but is quite well-written or well-constructed nonetheless—in short, it remains a poem but as an ugly, unappealing one that no one savors.

The application of the above to the forming of a life should be clear – one does not “truly live” by throwing all order to the wind to go only after the experience or sense of beauty, nor does one craft a deeply satisfying and enjoyable existence through organizing and constructing each minute detail and aspect of one’s life.

As with anything, we tend to fall on one side more than the other; experimentation, reflection, and recalibration are what we do as we make our way closer to the happy balance between the two.

Failure

If we follow Gabriel’s understanding of poetic centers up to this point, the point at which a poem “fails” should be self-explanatory.

It is when centers do not exist, are not connected with each other, are weak, or have any of the other characteristics missing.

The process of weeding out failures then becomes quite simple:

• Find centers
• Map their relationships
• Evaluate their strength
• Reflect on what you can change about the centers

Think of this when you get into a rut. Perhaps it means that one or more of your centers need to be shifted or replaced, or some aspects of a particular center requires attention. When you approach it with the mind of a poet, become less of a guessing-game to get back on track…

A Comparative Test for Beauty

Christopher Alexander gives the following list of questions as reference points to gauge the beauty or quality of a poem in light of another (quoted here). As you read and ponder over them, you may sense a sort of spiritual depth to them – I suppose at this point such is unavoidable, for the pursuit of this aspect of a poem or a life goes beyond rational reasoning and enters the realm of the infinite, the intangible, the immaterial.

(My notes are in italics.)

  • Which of the two seems to generate a greater feeling of life in me? That spark of inner being, quieter than a muted YouTube video but as powerful as that craving to breathe after holding your breath for too long. Something in you responds to it, beyond understanding or reasoning, something alive and breathing…
  • Which of the two makes me more aware of my own life? The point of art isn’t for a piece to be admired, but for the viewer to be made better because of it – through greater awareness of one’s self, through gratitude, through an expansion of one’s horizons, through a deeper love for life and others and the world around them. The same of a life – it is not meant to be lived for admiration (even from yourself) or enjoyment alone. 
  • Which of the two makes me feel a greater wholesomeness in myself? The wholesomeness of a thing on the viewer or reader, I think, is quite subjective and changes from person to person, or even from mood to mood. For the most part, I understand it to mean the lack of anything that hints at death without hope of regeneration, a sort of meaningless and inevitable destruction. Think of something that doesn’t have that at all. That’s what wholesome feels to me – it might not be painless or happy, might not even be free of death or decay, yet it brings healing.
  • Which of the two is more like my best self, or which of the two seems more like a picture of the self? This assumes you have a sense of what your “best self” is like, or at least that you recognize yourself and know in what ways you can still improve and grow into a better version of yourself. A vital understanding behind which doubt and discouragement often tag along – but isn’t it beautiful when you come across something that calls to the ‘you’ that you are not yet?
  • Which of the two makes me feel devotion, or inspires devotion in me?A sort of transcendence is meant here – something that draws you out of a material, humdrum, and unimpressive existence towards a sense of something more beautiful and noble, something so great you’d be willing to bow your head before. (Maybe not to that level in every single poem, but you get the point.)
  • Which of the two makes me more aware of God, or makes me feel close to God? Whether or not you believe there’s a God, I think you know what is being described here…
  • How do I observe the rising and falling of my humanity: Which of the two causes a greater rising of my humanity? A combination of several of the above questions, this asks whether this piece in question lifts you up or brings you down – does it make you feel more human, more alive, more of what it means to be you? Or not? 
  • Which of the two has more feeling in it or, more accurately: Which of the two makes me experience a deeper feeling of unity in myself? Harkening back to the idea of no separateness, the more beautiful of poems tend to bring together disparate perspectives, thoughts, and emotions within the reader and draw connections between them.

Closing Thoughts

No one system of thought fits everyone; not one single life is perfect; no amount of thinking about your life can substitute for actual living.

I found this concept of “poetic order” fascinating, noticed a few different ways it could assist in framing one’s life and the choices one must make, and thought I’d pull my thoughts together and share them in case someone else (such as you!) may also find it intriguing. I suppose this would be a good enough place to end my ramblings on the topic. At least for now.

Thank you for reading this series to the end! I trust it has been as thoughtful and enjoyable (and useful, perhaps) of a journey for you as it has been for me.

Peace.

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