Jacques Roubaud, p.2



THAT POETRY SAYS NOTHING, II

“You still believe it?”
“I do. You still deny it?”
“I do. What poetry says is what every poem says. In every poem, poetry says.”
“I’ll grant you that last statement. But it doesn’t contradict mine.”
“Why not?”
“Because saying that poetry says is not saying what poetry says.
But if a poem says something can you tell me what that something is that the poem says?”
“Not in the abstract.”
“You’re right. Let’s find an example.”
“A short one.”
“OK. Real short.
Ready?”
“Ready.”


Poem:

The Clouds

(that’s the title of the poem)

The Clouds

change.

What does this poem say?”
“That’s easy. It says that the clouds change.”
“You think so?”