Coleridges definition of poetry as the best words in the best order compared to his definition of prose as words in their

best order accurately depicts the true essence of poetry. The concise, precise, and eloquent language of poetry is easily observable in Randalls Ballad of Birmingham and Richs Storm Warnings. Initially, in Ballad of Birmingham, the scene of a child attending church instead of a freedom march is described. The writer utilizes quotations specifically in the first four stanzas to prompt the situation. However, the dialogue is far from verbose. For instance, the statement For I fear those guns will fire (14), For the dogs are fierce and wild, / and the clubs and hoses, guns and jails / arent good for a little child (6-8) only occupies three lines. Yet, aggressive diction such as fierce and wild [dogs] (6) and guns and jails (7) immediately instill a sense of danger within the reader. Aside from the mood, these three lines also shed light on the logistics of the march: one that is fairly large (large enough to invite dogs and water hoses brought by police) and one that is strongly opposed to by the government. Poetry with the best words in the best order can deliver such deep inferred meanings using so few words. Furthermore, the ability of poetry to articulate a writers thoughts using the finest words in the ideal order is also apparent in Storm Warnings by Adrienne Rich. In this poem, the narrator speaks of bracing for tropical storms in troubled regions (28). By selecting adjectives such as grey unrest (4), the reader is informed of the ominous clouds in the horizon through imagery. Grey clouds, generally cumulonimbus clouds, are restless. They spark lightning and are the source of storms. Therefore, the image of the grey unrest moving across the land

(4) delivers a similar feeling of unrest within the reader. What will occur next? Will the clouds or the storm harm the narrator? All of these details and contemplations stem from seven words. Poetry is truly magnificent in its capability of contriving greater ideas from short verses using exact words in the ideal sequence. In conclusion, the definition of poetry as the best words in the best order precisely outlines the merits of such language. By using selective diction effectively in verses, poetry can truly be an expressive language. One that is wise with few words.