Hola! This poem is part of my Ars Poetica – BlogchatterA2Z 2025 series, where I explore the art of poetry through 26 stanzas, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Every day, a new stanza unfolds, building upon the previous ones intuitively and organically. If you’re just joining in, feel free to read from the beginning or simply dive into today’s reflection on poetry.
Stanza 23 of the Ars Poetica—Witness or Wonder
Witness or wonder—
it’s as easy, and as impossible, as that.
To be a poet:
to let magic pass through you,
without clutching at its hem.
To allow yourself the rare, lavish gift of loneliness,
to meet life—
raw, tender, unadorned.
To watch the poem and the poet blur at the edges,
where all that's left
is the breathless moment:
to witness,
to wonder,
and to bow.
(to be continued...)
“I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z“.
This stanza captures the elusive nature of poetry so well — the way it demands both attention and surrender. I find that moment where the poet and poem blur into each other particularly moving, almost like stepping into a living, breathing moment.
Thank you so much! I love how you described it—attention and surrender perfectly capture what I was trying to express. That space where the poet and poem blur feels almost sacred to me. I’m really glad it moved you too. 🙂
I love the rawness in your poetry and how it comes with a question that won’t let you choose as well. That said, I would prefer witness any day. But wonder is what we writers do.
Thank you for your lovely words, Rehana! I completely get what you mean—witnessing feels grounded, but wonder is the restless spirit of a writer. It’s a dance between the two, and I’m so glad you connected with that tension. 🙂
I love how you explore the tension between witness and wonder in this stanza. It feels like poetry isn’t just about crafting words, but about being open to the world in a way that makes you receptive to its deeper meanings.
The idea that poetry is both something to witness and something to wonder at is so powerful. It’s like you’re both part of the poem and apart from it at the same time. This stanza really captures the raw, almost mystical experience of creating poetry.
This stanza beautifully captures the dual role of the poet—as both witness to life’s rawness and channel for its wonder. I especially resonated with the idea of ‘letting magic pass through without clutching at its hem’—such a delicate yet powerful reminder to stay open and receptive. Looking forward to how this thread evolves in the next stanzas.