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   gbeatty Teacher
   College - Freshman

   eNotes Editor

   The poem makes a few explicit statements on these themes, and some implicit statements. The explicit statements are found in this section of the poem:

   For he's the super realist
   who must perforce perceive
   taut truth
   before the taking of each stance or step
   in his supposed advance
   toward that still higher perch
   where Beauty stands and waits
   with gravity
   to start her death-defying leap

    

   Here the primary explicit statements about truth is that it is linked to a realistic view of existence and that the poet can reach it. Regarding beauty, the poem explicitly states that it is accessible, and that perceiving truth is a necessary step to reaching it.

   
   Moving to the implicit, the ongoing image of the poet as acrobat implies great risk, and that the poet's art elevates him (in the poem) to realms others can't reach. There's great difficulty, and beauty seems to consciously elude the poet, or at least, position her self at a distance.

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   Posted by gbeatty on Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 6:52 AM