Response to Concept: 10/21/19

Symbolism is not meant to be taken so literally in poetry. There is not one meaning which can be derived so easily like a multiple choice answer ready to be bubbled. It is fluid in poetry. There is so much to do with one word and its meaning could be nothing at all. It could be everything. It could be every sense and be anything beyond its scope. A heart could symbolize a giraffe's evolution; it could symbolize the brain of a preacher. Does this make sense? Perhaps not in such a simple sentence, but it could mean a lot more in a poem about human evolution. As Zapruder mentions, we are not supposed to designate one meaning to one object. To be poets, we must master this play with words, crafting stanzas of metaphors and symbols. We must become symbolists and do with the language that a scientist never could.