A surprising combination of qualities to look for in fine poetry (and other writing). Hard to think of poetry which comes closer to embodying all three than the meticulous, mysterious and fresh-voiced verse of George Herbert.

‘The three qualities I admire in the poetry I like best: Accuracy, Spontaneity, Mystery.’

Source: Elizabeth Bishop, quoted in John Drury, Music at Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George Herbert (London: Penguin Books, 2014), p. 322

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