Reading a poem aloud to an audience is gestural as much as precise.

A poem can have an impact, but you can't expect an audience to understand all the nuances.

A poem can have an impact, but you can't expect an audience to understand all the nuances.

A poet's cultural baggage and erudition can interfere with a poem.

A poet's cultural baggage and erudition can interfere with a poem.

History provides no precise guidelines.