course and not conclusion

Lead you readers forward but let them draw their own conclusions.

denatured poetry

The critic advocated for a denatured poetry wherein any emotional response had been stripped from the words.

nothing to be said

When a true poem is spoken silence is often the only response.

audience to the rescue

After the luridly personal poems were read, the audience wasn’t sure what to do with their hands, whether they should be clapping or scooping up the mess.

responding in kind

Each reader answers the poem according to his/her own nature. (after Confucius)

a ping in the universe

A poem is a ping in the universe whose sender cares not if it hits anything and echoes back.