noun 1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative. 2. anything resembling. All Articles; Articles Detail; The FutureMuseum Project: What will museums be like in the future? Essay collection. Join the FutureMuseum Project and add your. For insights on cultural questions and societal concerns, turn to eHow. We have the scoop on everything from religion and politics to the paranormal and table etiquette. The Atlantic Monthly. May 1991. Can Poetry Matter? Poetry has vanished as a cultural force in America. If poets venture outside their confined world, they can work.