“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood”
— T. S. Eliot
Simplified Meaning:
When you read a truly beautiful poem, it can touch your heart even if you don't fully get all the words or complex ideas right away. It's like listening to a song in another language that makes you feel happy or sad because of the music, even if you don't know what the words mean. The feelings and images in a poem can make you feel something deep inside as soon as you read it. For example, imagine watching a sunset. You might not know all the science behind why the sky turns different colors, but you can still feel its beauty and calmness. In the same way, a poem can speak to your emotions and create a strong connection with you before you catch every meaning. When someone writes from the heart, their passion and emotions come through clearly, hitting you on a basic, human level. You can appreciate a poem's feeling and tone before understanding its full message, much like you might feel warmth from a smile before knowing why the person is smiling. So, you don't need to be an expert to feel and enjoy the truth and beauty in poetry.