For while the subjects of poetry are few and recurrent, the

Listen closely to the words of John Drinkwater, who speaks with depth and understanding of the nature of poetry and art: “For while the subjects of poetry are few and recurrent, the moods of man are infinitely various and unstable. It is the same in all arts.” With this observation, Drinkwater touches on a profound truth—that while the themes or subjects that poetry explores—love, death, nature, heroism, and so on—are timeless and limited in number, the emotional landscape of humanity is vast, varied, and ever-changing. The subject of poetry may be familiar, but the moods of man are what give poetry its depth and richness. Poetry speaks not only to the themes we know, but to the many shifting emotional states that we experience. In this sense, the poet's task is not to simply write about the subject, but to capture the mood that it elicits.

Reflect, if you will, on the great Greek tragedies, which, though centered on familiar themes of fate, family, and power, explore the ever-changing moods of their characters. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, for example, begins with a man full of pride and certainty, only to be crushed by the revelation of his own tragic flaw. His journey from ignorance to knowledge is a reflection of the unstable nature of the human condition—one moment filled with confidence, the next with humiliation and despair. The subject—a king’s fall from grace—is well-known, but the mood—the shifting emotions of self-awareness, horror, and regret—is what gives the work its timeless power. As Drinkwater suggests, it is not the theme that changes, but the emotional tides that give the work meaning.

In Shakespeare, we see this same dynamic at play. Macbeth and Hamlet, though each centered on power, ambition, and loss, explore the fluctuating moods of the protagonists—Macbeth's ruthless ambition gives way to his guilt, and Hamlet’s indecision transforms into moments of profound clarity. These works are studies of human emotion in all its complexity. Shakespeare did not simply write about the theme of ambition or revenge—he captured the entire emotional spectrum of human experience, showing how a single man’s mind can shift from certainty to doubt, from resolve to hesitation. The subject may be timeless, but the moods of the characters reflect the depth and instability of the human spirit.

Consider the Romantic poets of the 19th century, such as William Wordsworth and John Keats, whose works often explored the theme of nature but with an ever-changing emotional depth. Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey begins with nostalgia, as he reflects on his past visit to the place, only to transition to peace and gratitude as he finds solace in nature's embrace. The mood shifts as Wordsworth contemplates the passage of time, showing us how the same external world—the natural setting—can evoke different emotions depending on one's internal state. For Wordsworth, the landscape is not just a backdrop to his thoughts; it is a mirror reflecting the various states of his soul.

Keats, too, explores the themes of beauty, death, and the fleeting nature of life, but he does so by exploring the ever-shifting emotional tides of the human heart. In his poem Ode to a Nightingale, he begins with ecstasy, lost in the sweet song of the nightingale, only to descend into melancholy as he contemplates the fragility of life. The theme—life’s fleeting nature—is eternal, but Keats’ mood fluctuates, capturing the instability of the human heart. Through these moods, Keats gives us a glimpse into the heart of humanity, showing how a single experience—such as the song of a bird—can stir a range of emotions that reflect the complexity of our existence.

The lesson Drinkwater offers us is one of emotional depth and flexibility. Poetry, as well as other forms of art, may address the same recurring subjects throughout time, but it is the moods of man—the shifting feelings, the transient emotions—that give the art its vitality and power. The subject of poetry might be familiar to all, but it is in the exploration of mood—the deep and ever-changing emotional states—that poetry truly comes alive. The emotional landscape of the human experience is infinitely varied, and it is the poet’s task to capture that vast, unstable terrain, to chart the shifting tides of joy, sorrow, love, and loss.

Practical actions follow. As a poet or an artist, seek to capture the depth of human emotion in your work. Do not merely retell familiar themes; explore the moods they evoke and bring to the surface the complexities of human feeling. Experiment with how your subject matter can shift in emotional tone, from one feeling to another, just as Shakespeare did in his plays or Keats did in his odes. As a reader or audience member, allow yourself to feel the mood behind the art, not just the theme. Reflect on how the emotions conveyed in a poem, a play, or a painting speak to your own inner state, recognizing that poetry and art are meant to provoke not just thought, but feeling.

Thus, John Drinkwater calls us to understand that poetry is not simply about the subject it addresses, but about the emotional journey it takes us on. It is not the recurrent themes that give poetry its power, but the shifting, unstable moods of human existence. Let us, therefore, embrace the emotional depth of poetry, allowing ourselves to be moved, not just by the subject matter, but by the ever-changing emotional truths that poetry reveals.