For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf,
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea–
A poem should not mean
But be.

In "Ars Poetica," Archibald MacLeish articulates a profound understanding of poetry that defies straightforward interpretation. He suggests that a poem's essence transcends mere meaning, much like the natural phenomena it mirrors. The imagery of "an empty doorway and a maple leaf" evokes a sense of historical sorrow without directly stating it, emphasizing how poetry captures emotions and experiences without explicit explanation. Similarly, "the leaning grasses and two lights above the sea" invites readers to feel the subtleties of love and its reflections in the natural world. The final lines, "A poem should not mean / But be," encapsulate this philosophy. Poetry is presented as an autonomous entity, akin to art that exists for its own sake, not to serve a didactic purpose. It should be experienced as a self-contained reality, invoking a visceral response that does not hinge on concrete interpretation. This passage reinforces the idea of poetry as an experiential form, encouraging readers to appreciate its existence beyond mere words.