Japanese poetry

is purer, more essentially poetic, for it focuses exclusively on the intensification and exaltation of experience, while being less distracted by non-poetic considerations than in the poetry of other peoples.

Japanese poetry does what poetry does everywhere: it intensifies and exalts experience. It is true that it concentrates practically exclusively on this function. The poetry of other peoples usually serves other functions too, some of them not particularly germane to the poetic experience. It is possible to claim that Japanese poetry is purer, more essentially poetic. Certainly it is less distracted by non-poetic considerations.

japanese poetry, n.All

japanese poetry