From Rodney Jones’ poem “On Criticism” in the new issue of Parnassus: Poetry in Review:
Without taste, criticism inflates to theory. The technique
and not the art. The theology without the religion.
The critic fails when he stops thinking of the sweetness.
Do you know that Pabulo Neruda poem, Sweetness Always? This is toward the end:
Don’t be afraid of sweetness.
With or without us,
sweetness will go on living
and is infinitely alive,
forever being revived,
for it’s in a man’s mouth,
whether he’s eating or singing,
that sweetness has its place.
MMMMM.
Y’know, I don’t, but I bet Rodney Jones does — thanks for noticing! My Neruda backlist is woefully incomplete.