Yet if it does not seem a moment’s thought, / Our stitching and unstitching has been naught
-- Speaker (Lines 5-6)

Importance: Here the speaker compares the art of poetry to textile work, giving the process a tactile and architectural feel. The “stitching” refers to the act of putting words on paper, while “unstitching” is the editorial process in which words are cut from the text or refined. The contrast between the two helps highlight the process of writing poetry, which can cycle through patterns of writing and rewriting until the desired effect is achieved.

the noisy set / Of bankers, schoolmasters, and clergymen / The martyrs call the world
-- Speaker (Lines 12-14)

Importance: The derision in this line reflects the speaker’s attitude to the world around them and their response to the world’s attitude towards them. Bankers, professors, and members of the clergy are often among the most respected in a community, while artists such as the speaker...