''Spectra: A Book of Poetic Experiments'' was a small volume of

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...

published in 1916 by

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

writers

Witter Bynner Harold Witter Bynner (August 10, 1881 – June 1, 1968), also known by the pen name Emanuel Morgan, was an American poet and translator. He was known for his long residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and association with other literary figures ther ...

, who wrote under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

"Emanuel Morgan", and Arthur Davison Ficke, who wrote as "Anne Knish." The book was intended as

satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

directed at the

Imagism Imagism was a movement in early-20th-century Anglo-American poetry that favored precision of imagery and clear, sharp language. It is considered to be the first organized modernist literary movement in the English language. Imagism is sometim ...

poetry movement. ''Spectra'' was preceded by a brief

manifesto A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a ...

outlining the Spectric method as a

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

: *"In the first place, it speaks, to the mind of that process of diffraction by which are disarticulated the several colored and other rays of which light is composed. . . ." *"In its second sense, the term Spectric relates to the reflex vibrations of physical sight, and suggests the luminous appearance which is seen after the exposure of the eye to intense light, and, by analogy, the after-colors of the poets initial vision." *"In its third sense, Spectric connotes the overtones, adumbrations, or spectres which for the poet haunt all objects of both the seen and unseen world. . . ." The poems in the collection were identified by

opus number In musicology, the opus number is the "work number" that is assigned to a musical composition, or to a set of compositions, to indicate the chronological order of the composer's production. Opus numbers are used to distinguish among compositio ...

s rather than titles, and mostly take on a silly tone. From "Opus 6" by Emanuel Morgan: :''If I were only dafter'' ::''I might be making hymns'' :''To the liquor of your laughter'' ::''And the lacquer of your limbs.'' Anne Knish's Opus 118: :''If bathing were a virtue, not a lust'' :''I would be dirtiest.'' :''To some, housecleaning is a holy rite.'' :''For myself, houses would be empty'' :''But for the golden motes dancing in sunbeams.'' :''Tax-assessors frequently overlook valuables.'' :''Today they noted my jade.'' :''But my memory of you escaped them.'' ''Spectra'' was intended solely as a joke. Initially, even the publisher was fooled by the book, but he was let in on the joke before going to press. The authors assumed the ridiculousness of the work would shine through, but it was actually accepted as a legitimate poetic movement for two years. In 1918, Bynner admitted in a public speech that he had co-authored the book and explained the hoax.The Spectra Hoax , Primary Selections from Special Collections
/ref> Both Bynner and Ficke were accomplished poets of their time, but the ''Spectra'' poems are probably the most widely remembered of their work.Poetry Foundation
Both authors admitted to the hoax having backfired to a certain extent, as it overshadowed their more serious work. Nonetheless, Ficke stated that he learned a good deal about composition while writing as Knish, adding that it actually influenced his later work.

References

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External links

complete text Literary forgeries American poetry collections Works published under a pseudonym Imagism

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