“Colloquial poetry is to the real art as the barber's wax dummy is to sculpture.”

Simplified Meaning:

Imagine you go to an art museum and see a beautiful statue carved from marble. It's detailed, lifelike, and took lots of skill to create. Now, picture a wax figure at a barber shop, made to look like a person for practicing haircuts. The wax figure might look somewhat real, but it's not a true work of art like the marble statue. This quote compares simple, everyday poetry to high-quality, serious poetry. Basic poetry uses common language and ideas, much like the wax figure, while true poetry is carefully crafted, deep, and requires talent, just like a marble statue. For example, think of two songs: one with lyrics that are catchy but simple, and another song with lyrics that are beautiful and complex. The first song is easy to enjoy, but the second song leaves a lasting impression because of its artistry. The advice here is to recognize the difference in quality and strive for the deeper, more meaningful creation in your own work. In daily life, it means appreciating true talent and effort and aiming to put that same level of dedication into what you create. Whether it's writing, music, or any other art form, aim for depth and quality instead of settling for something just okay.