You Would Just Have to Be There

“the poet-artist’s uniqueness does not consist in the fact that he actually saw ‘those wonderful originals called in the Scared Scriptures and the Cherubim.’ … It consists solely in his ability to render, in words or in line and color, some hint of at least of a not excessively uncommon experience. The untalented visionary may perceive an inner reality no less tremendous, beautiful and significant than the world beheld by Blake; but he lacks altogether the ability to express, in literary or plastic symbols, what he has seen.” 

This is a very interesting excerpt. I have, myself, pondered this idea. “It consists solely in his ability to render.” Everyone has had the moment where a brilliant idea, or concept, came to mind. However, when called upon to explain, or illustrate, this idea, one too oft’ draws a blank. There has always been that moment where one couldn’t quite explain what he meant- words just couldn’t grasp his meaning, paint couldn’t portray his picture… “You would just have to be there.” This quote is epitome unto the idea that the poet-artist’s uniqueness lies in his ability to render- his ability to break the barrier of “you would just have to be there.”