The evolution of poems as machines

This article discusses the use of physical terms to describe literary works, words such as «force», «power», and «machine», that have long been used to interpret texts. If a poem is a machine made of words, then it produces an effect or does intended work. The work done by this «machine of words» takes place in the reader’s mind or soul and enriches the mind with new knowledge. The author illustrates this idea with examples from poetry of the past and present centuries. Techniques that reinforce the analogy between verse and machine are shown, as well as the evolutionary changes occurring in both poetry and machines. This provides a new perspective on the complex processes of the modern world.