We say God and the imagination are one. How high that highest candle lights the dark

We say God and the imagination are one. How high that highest candle lights the dark

In the realm of poetry, Wallace Stevens is often regarded as one of the most influential and innovative American poets of the 20th century. His work is characterized by its complex and philosophical exploration of the relationship between reality and imagination, often blurring the lines between the two. One of his most famous poems, "The Idea of Order at Key West," contains the line, "We say God and the imagination are one. How high that highest candle lights the dark," which encapsulates Stevens' belief in the power of the imagination to illuminate and transcend the limitations of the physical world.

Stevens was deeply interested in the concept of the imagination as a creative force that could shape and transform reality. In his poetry, he often explores the idea that the human imagination has the ability to access a higher, more transcendent realm of existence, where the boundaries between the material and the spiritual are blurred. This idea is reflected in the line, "We say God and the imagination are one," which suggests that the creative power of the human mind is akin to the divine power of creation.

The image of "the highest candle" lighting the darkness is a powerful metaphor for the way in which the imagination can illuminate and bring clarity to the unknown and the mysterious. Just as a candle can dispel the darkness and reveal hidden truths, so too can the imagination shed light on the deeper meanings and complexities of the world around us. Stevens believed that through the act of artistic creation, we can tap into a higher level of consciousness and understanding, allowing us to see beyond the surface of things and glimpse the underlying order and beauty of the universe.

Overall, the line "We say God and the imagination are one. How high that highest candle lights the dark" encapsulates Stevens' belief in the transformative power of the imagination and its ability to reveal the hidden truths and mysteries of existence. Through his poetry, Stevens invites us to explore the depths of our own imaginations and to embrace the creative potential that lies within each of us.