From

THE BOOK OF PROSODY

As an example of the use of information in poetry as contrasted
with prose, take the last movement of Zukowsky's "A" in which
many statements and quotations are placed in juxtaposition one
after the other for 41 pages in all: The writing of it is not
put down for the literal meaning of the individual items or their
particular truth (though it is understood that they _must_ be true
to be used) but for their sensual qualities - sensed at a stroke
by the mind - not dwelt on as in a consecutive and developing
prose discourse. So by repeated sensual impacts one after the
other and using new materials each time a conviction is born
that this and this and this being true and being related in
meaning the truth of each one of them is separately affirmed.
This is purely a sensual matter related to art. It has nothing
to do with logic but arrives irresistably by direct conviction.
It is interesting and depends on the obvious tactile acceptance
of each item _as true_ or made of the truth. And so each item must
be very judiciously studied not to fly out of line by false em-
phasis or _feeling_ but needs only to be true: nothing must inter-
fere with that or the whole structure will fall.

This has nothing to do with the value per se of the information
imparted. That naturally is of primary importance. All that is
touched upon above is the manner chosen for imparting that knowl-
edge whether prose or poetry and if poetry how it has been in

2.

this case and what effect may be expected from such treatment.

A further definition of what is and what is not sensual is invited by the sort of material used. It should be noted that in this poem the principle of the simile is used rather than metaphor. What is being said is that all these things are alike and so each one gains in potential rather than direct meaning. This is the basic function of poetry, by use of form to impose a further meaning upon the literal significance. So it seems that here by a thoroughly academic procedure modified to an enlarged use (the simile) an orthodox effect of poetry is obtained in a new way. Thus, the segments of information are to be understood to have a sensual quality rather than a logical one.

This is important for it again enlarges the poetic means - we see the same differently used in Found's Cantos where bits of "prose" are used among conventionally moulded poetic lines - Added to the usual use of figures, the rose, the melody we must perhaps add the idea but the idea treated as a sensual object.