"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of re-action, the tranquility disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind." -William Wordsworth What is this quote saying? I can't seem to get the general idea of it.

Answer 1

I'll paraphrase certain parts (in bold below) for you:

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it begins with feelings remembered when one is at peace: the feeling is thought about until, by a type of re-action, the peace disappears, and a feeling, similar to the poet's prior state of mind, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind."

Repost if you have a specific question about any of this.

Answer 2

So basically it is saying that poetry begins with the feelings one has when they are at peace, and then by analyzing the poem, the reader is able to feel what the poet was feeling when they wrote it?