Context

The last line of "Ars Poetica" gives us the real takeaway of the whole poem: poetry isn't "meaning"; it's about "being."

Since poems are about life, and life is indefinable, poems shouldn't try to make meaning. According to this guy, reading poetry is about the experience, not the content.

Deep, we know.

Where you've heard it

Someone in your creative writing class probably pulled this one out when you asked them what their poem meant. They really showed you, huh?

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Pro tip: if your English teacher asks you to analyze a poem, don't respond with "A poem should not mean / But be." Believe us—we've tried.