When thoughts, feelings, emotions, surge from within the Soul and seek expression in words; when the Soul of beauty has touched and attuned the faculties of the mind to the most beautiful form of expression; when the tenseness of the thought and emotion is such that no other form of expression is possible, that is poetry.

Metrical writing (or speaking as in Improvisation) is an art. But verses may be constructed with perfect metrical accuracy that are not in any sense poetry. Rhythm and Rhyme are not poetry, but methods.

Imagination has no higher avenue of expression than poetry.

Inspiration no better aid. Many of the "prose poems" of great masters are perfect poetic Art.

From Aeschylus and Homer to Shakespeare, from Hesiod to Chaucer, from Dante to Milton, we may trace the weaving of those wondrous numbers that win the world to pleasure, patriotism and worship.

The "Sacred books" of the Orient are poems: Songs of praise and exhortation, syllables of Inspiration set to the Oriental language with all the imagination that Love and praise can give.

The psalms (songs of David) are many of them among the choicest and grandest poetic productions of the world.

And we all know what a valuable - in fact, indispensable - adjunct are the words of Hymns and Anthems of Worship in Modern Churches.

One may turn from the severest of Watts' Hymns and that class to the more cheerful songs of praise and Love of modern composers, but Oratorio and Anthem in both words and music must continue to inspire and enthuse the thought of worship.

Every nation of every period of the world's history, has not only its poetic groups, led by the Angel of the group, but its perfect Poem.

Scholars and critics may quibble and differ, but the perfect Poem (Lyric, Epic or simple song) will remain forever.

Sometimes (as in a more recent period) a Victor Hugo will thrill the world with prose poems and Whitman be glorious - and misunderstood - but the ages uplift and exalt them.