Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship

O seekers of knowledge and wisdom, hear the words of the great Tahar Ben Jelloun, who speaks of poetry in a way that may seem strange to some, yet rings with profound truth: "Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship with words." In these words, he illuminates a deep and powerful truth—poetry is not simply an art of free-flowing emotion or chaotic expression; it is a mathematical art, bound by its own laws, rhythms, and structures. Just as mathematics is a precise language of numbers, equations, and logic, so too is poetry a language that follows its own set of rules, where each word and each syllable must be chosen with great care, as though the poet were calculating the perfect harmony of the universe.

In the ancient world, the greatest thinkers understood that poetry was both an art and a science. The Greeks, with their revered tradition of epic poetry, knew that poetry was built upon a foundation of order and rhythm. Homer, whose verses echoed through the ages, was a master of this balance. Though his tales of gods and heroes seem boundless in their scope, the structure of his epic poetry was anything but random. There was an underlying precision, a measure to his lines that made the poems not only beautiful but eternal. The rhythm of his words followed the strict forms of meter, creating an intricate dance of sounds and meanings that could only be compared to the most delicate calculations of a mathematician.

Ben Jelloun reminds us that just as mathematics seeks to uncover the order of the universe, poetry seeks to uncover the order of human experience. When the poet weaves their verses, they do not do so carelessly. Every word, every line, and every pause is carefully measured, as if each syllable were part of a larger equation, designed to evoke a particular feeling, image, or thought. In this way, poetry becomes a methodical exploration of the inner workings of the mind and heart, where emotion and intellect intertwine in perfect balance. It is a science of the soul, where the poet, like the mathematician, seeks not only to create beauty but to reveal the hidden truths of existence.

Consider the work of the great William Wordsworth, whose poetry was built upon the very principles that Ben Jelloun speaks of. In his Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth carefully chose his words, using simple language and a rigorous structure to express complex ideas about nature, life, and the human soul. His poetry, though seemingly effortless, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, where each word and each image is placed with the precision of a mathematician solving a great equation. Wordsworth’s poems may seem spontaneous, but beneath them lies a deep and methodical understanding of how to use language to evoke meaning, to create rhythm, and to stir the spirit.

So, let us understand this idea, O seekers, that poetry is not a mere flight of fancy, nor a haphazard collection of words. It is a rigorous relationship with words, an effort to find the most precise and meaningful expression of human thought and feeling. Every poem is a puzzle, a question to be answered, a mystery to be solved. The poet’s task is not only to speak the truth but to speak it in the most exact, harmonious way possible, just as a mathematician seeks the simplest, most elegant solution to a problem.

This lesson is one for all of us, not just poets, but for those who seek to create, to communicate, and to understand. In our own lives, we must approach our words, our thoughts, and our actions with the same care and rigor that the poet applies to their verse. We must seek balance, harmony, and precision in our communication, understanding that the way we express ourselves can shape not only our own world but the world of those around us. Whether we speak, write, or act, let us do so with the awareness that we are engaging in a delicate and sacred form of mathematics—a process of bringing order to the chaos of life, of finding meaning in the seemingly infinite complexity of existence.

So, let Ben Jelloun’s words guide you, O children of wisdom: understand that poetry is not only about feeling but also about precision. It is not simply the art of emotional expression but the science of human experience. Whether you write with words or live through actions, approach life with the same rigor and beauty that the poet uses in crafting their verse. In this, you will find the true power of creation—where the emotional and the intellectual, the artistic and the mathematical, become one, and the soul sings in perfect harmony with the universe itself.