Charles Olson Quotes

Charles Olson, the visionary American poet, revolutionized the landscape of modern poetry with his bold experimentation and expansive vision. As a central figure in the Black Mountain Poets movement, Olson challenged traditional poetic forms and conventions, embracing improvisation and spontaneity to create works of startling originality and power. Through his groundbreaking poetry and influential critical essays, Olson inspired a new generation of poets to push the boundaries of language and expression, leaving an enduring legacy of innovation and creativity.

"I'm one of the cliches that has grown up."

Growth, Cliches

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"You can read everybody. It's not even interesting to tell the truth because to some extent it's false."

Truth,

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"Atlantis will rise again."

Will,

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"I defer to all these other American poets who, for some reason, I both envy and admire."

Influence, Envy, Poets, Reason

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"The poem, for me, is simply the first sound realized in the modality of being."

Being, First, Sound

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"This morning of the small snow I count the blessings, the leak in the faucet which makes of the sink time, the drop of the water on water."

Time, Blessings, Snow, Water

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"I'm trying to climb up both walls at once."

Ambition, Trying

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"Forgive me if I sleep until I wake up."

Sleep,

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"You don't help people in your poems. I've been trying to help people all my life - that's my trouble."

Life, People, Help, Poems

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"Fact is based upon vulgar matter."

Fact,

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"I sound like Homer. I mean Winslow Homer."

Identity, Sound

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"There is a grace of life which is still yours, my dear Europe."

Life, Europe, Grace

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"The heroes of the present will retreat to the imitation they are anyhow."

Heroism, Heroes, Imitation, Present, Will

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"I remember way back when I was young, 10 years ago."

Memory, Years

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"We all want what's been suddenly disallowed."

Want,

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"I hope you're representing the devil's advocate."

Hope, Devil

3

"This country has been unconscious, and it's got to awake. That's my belief."

Trust, Belief, Country, Unconscious

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"When will government cease being a nuisance to everybody?"

Government, Being, Will

"You can do anything, literally, right? That's one of the exciting possibilities of the present."

Possibility, Possibilities, Present, Right

5

"I don't live for poetry. I live far more than anybody else does."

Poetry,

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"I am happy to have some friends here in the kitchen."

Friendship, Friends, Kitchen

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