Here's an excerpt from Wordsworth's famous poem, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," illustrating key characteristics of organic poetry:
***
> I wandered lonely as a cloud
> That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
> When all at once I saw a crowd,
> A host, of golden daffodils;
> Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
> Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
> Continuous as the stars that shine
> And twinkle on the milky way,
> They stretched in never-ending line
> Along the margin of a bay:
> Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
> Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
> The waves beside them danced; but they
> Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
> A poet could not but be gay,
> In such a jocund company:
> I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
> What wealth the show to me had brought.
> For oft, when on my couch I lie
> In vacant or in pensive mood,
> They flash upon that inward eye
> Which is the bliss of solitude;
> And then my heart with pleasure fills,
> And dances with the daffodils.
***
Why this poem is considered organic:
* Focus on Nature and Emotion: The poem's central theme is the speaker's encounter with nature, and the deep emotional connection they forge with the daffodils.
* Unfolding Experience: The poem follows a natural progression, mirroring the speaker's experience of seeing the daffodils, feeling joy, and then recalling that memory later.
* Unity of Form and Content: The poem's structure, language, and rhythm all work together to create a sense of flowing, natural movement, mirroring the daffodils' dance and the speaker's emotional journey.
* Personal and Universal: The poem's specific details about the daffodils are combined with universal themes of nature's beauty and the power of memory, making it relatable to a wide audience.
* Emphasis on Imagination: The poem shows how nature can inspire imagination, leading the speaker to later relive the experience in their mind.
This is just one example, and organic poetry can take many forms. The key is that it focuses on natural flow, personal experience, and the interplay between the external world and the inner world of the poet.