Poetry Quotes | Beyond Motive 2/15

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Poetry Quotes

"From the reader's view, a poem is more demanding than prose."

"From the reader's view, a poem is more demanding than prose."

Mark Strand, American Poet

54

"There is something about poetry beyond prose logic, there is mystery in it, not to be explained but admired."

"There is something about poetry beyond prose logic, there is mystery in it, not to be explained but admired."

Edward Young, English Poet

Poetry, Logic, Mystery, Prose

52

"The subject of Finnish poetry ought to have a special interest for the Japanese student, if only for the reason that Finnish poetry comes more closely in many respects to Japanese poetry than any other form of Western poetry."

"The subject of Finnish poetry ought to have a special interest for the Japanese student, if only for the reason that Finnish poetry comes more closely in many respects to Japanese poetry than any other form of Western poetry."

Lafcadio Hearn, Japanese Author

Poetry, Interest, Reason

51

"Teaching writing over the years intrudes on your own writing in important ways, taking away some of the excitement of poetry."

"Teaching writing over the years intrudes on your own writing in important ways, taking away some of the excitement of poetry."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Excitement, Teaching, Writing

51

"Translation is an interestingly different way to be involved both with poetry and with the language that I've found myself living in much of the time. I think the two feed each other."

"Translation is an interestingly different way to be involved both with poetry and with the language that I've found myself living in much of the time. I think the two feed each other."

Marilyn Hacker, American Poet

Poetry, Time, Language, Living

51

"I learned to impersonate the kind of person that talks about poetry. It comes from teaching, I think."

"I learned to impersonate the kind of person that talks about poetry. It comes from teaching, I think."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Teaching

51

"Poetic talent doesn't operate in a vacuum. There is a spirit of Polish poetry."

"Poetic talent doesn't operate in a vacuum. There is a spirit of Polish poetry."

Wislawa Szymborska, Polish Poet

Poetry, Talent, Spirit

50

"The great watershed of modern poetry is French, more than English."

"The great watershed of modern poetry is French, more than English."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, English

50

"Poetry: the best words in the best order."

"Poetry: the best words in the best order."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English Poet

Poetry, Order, Words

50

"I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream."

"I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream."

Mark Strand, American Poet

Poetry, Purpose, America

50

"Children can write poetry and then, unless they're poets, they stop when reach puberty."

"Children can write poetry and then, unless they're poets, they stop when reach puberty."

Dennis Potter, British Dramatist

Poetry, Children, Poets

50

"I think that it's more likely that in my 60s and 70s I will be writing poetry rather than fiction."

"I think that it's more likely that in my 60s and 70s I will be writing poetry rather than fiction."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Fiction, Will, Writing

50

"Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure."

"Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure."

Mark Strand, American Poet

Poetry, End, Pain, Pleasure

50

"In rap music, even though the element of poetry is very strong, so is the element of the drum, the implication of the dance. Without the beat, its commercial value would certainly be more tenuous."

"In rap music, even though the element of poetry is very strong, so is the element of the drum, the implication of the dance. Without the beat, its commercial value would certainly be more tenuous."

Archie Shepp, American Musician

Poetry, Music, Dance, Rap

49

"All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry side, that's the prose side, that's the fishing and miscellaneous behind me. You get an affection for books that you've enjoyed."

"All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry side, that's the prose side, that's the fishing and miscellaneous behind me. You get an affection for books that you've enjoyed."

Norman MacCaig, Scottish Poet

Poetry, Affection, Books, Fishing

49

"In our period, they say there is free speech. They say there is no penalty for poets, There is no penalty for writing poems. They say this. This is the penalty."

"In our period, they say there is free speech. They say there is no penalty for poets, There is no penalty for writing poems. They say this. This is the penalty."

Muriel Rukeyser, American Poet

Poetry, Freespeech, Poems, Poets, Writing

49

"I've written some poetry I don't understand myself."

"I've written some poetry I don't understand myself."

Carl Sandburg, American Poet

49

"One of the most powerful devices of poetry is the use of distortions. You can go from talking about the way a minute passes to the way a century passes, or a lifetime."

"One of the most powerful devices of poetry is the use of distortions. You can go from talking about the way a minute passes to the way a century passes, or a lifetime."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Talking

49

"The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs."

"The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs."

Charles Baudelaire, French Poet

Poetry, Music, Dance, Being

49

"Irish poets, learn your trade, sing whatever is well made, scorn the sort now growing up all out of shape from toe to top."

"Irish poets, learn your trade, sing whatever is well made, scorn the sort now growing up all out of shape from toe to top."

William Butler Yeats, Irish Poet

Poetry, Growingup, Now, Poets

49

"A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion, but then so is all poetry, and to suppose that there are several kinds of poetry, differing from each other in essence, is to be deceived by wholly artificial divisions which have no real being."

"A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion, but then so is all poetry, and to suppose that there are several kinds of poetry, differing from each other in essence, is to be deceived by wholly artificial divisions which have no real being."

John Drinkwater, English Poet

Poetry, Being, Emotion, Expression

48

"Poetry is adolescence fermented, and thus preserved."

"Poetry is adolescence fermented, and thus preserved."

Jose Ortega Y Gasset, Spanish Philosopher

Poetry, Adolescence

48

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."

Carl Sandburg, American Poet

Poetry, Dance, Echo, Shadow

48

"American poetry, like American painting, is always personal with an emphasis on the individuality of the poet."

"American poetry, like American painting, is always personal with an emphasis on the individuality of the poet."

Diane Wakoski, American Poet

Poetry, Individuality, Painting

48

"I am two fools, I know, for loving, and for saying so in whining poetry."

"I am two fools, I know, for loving, and for saying so in whining poetry."

John Donne, British Poet

Poetry, Fools, Saying

48

"Dancing is the poetry of the foot."

"Dancing is the poetry of the foot."

John Dryden, English Poet

Poetry, Dancing

48

"And inasmuch as the bridge is a symbol of all such poetry as I am interested in writing it is my present fancy that a year from now I'll be more contented working in an office than ever before."

"And inasmuch as the bridge is a symbol of all such poetry as I am interested in writing it is my present fancy that a year from now I'll be more contented working in an office than ever before."

Hart Crane, American Poet

Poetry, Fancy, Now, Office

48

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."

Oscar Wilde, Irish Dramatist

Poetry, Feeling

48

"I came to pen another poem for you, but even every unwritten poem is you."

"I came to pen another poem for you, but even every unwritten poem is you."

Kamand Kojouri, Iranian Poet

Poetry, Creation, Love, Expression

48

"High and low culture come together in all Post Modern art, and American poetry is not excluded from this."

"High and low culture come together in all Post Modern art, and American poetry is not excluded from this."

Diane Wakoski, American Poet

Poetry, Art, Culture

48

"Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose."

"Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose."

Walter Savage Landor, English Poet

Poetry, Prose, Weight

47

"The beauty, the poetry of the fear in their eyes. I didn't mind going to jail for, what, five, six hours? It was absolutely worth it."

"The beauty, the poetry of the fear in their eyes. I didn't mind going to jail for, what, five, six hours? It was absolutely worth it."

Johnny Depp, American Actor

Poetry, Beauty, Fear, Eyes

47

"I gave up on new poetry myself 30 years ago when most of it began to read like coded messages passing between lonely aliens in a hostile world."

"I gave up on new poetry myself 30 years ago when most of it began to read like coded messages passing between lonely aliens in a hostile world."

Russell Baker, American Journalist

Poetry, Lonely, World, Years

47

"Among the American contemporaries I read with most enjoyment are several North Carolinians. I think the best poetry being written these days is being written by Southerners."

"Among the American contemporaries I read with most enjoyment are several North Carolinians. I think the best poetry being written these days is being written by Southerners."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Being, Enjoyment

47

"Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad netstowards your oceanic eyes.There in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames,its arms turning like a drowning man's.I send out red signals across your absent eyesthat smell like the sea or the beach by a lighthouse.You keep only darkness, my distant female,from your regard sometimes the coast of dread emerges.Leaning into the afternoons I fling my sad netsto that sea that is thrashed by your oceanic eyes.The birds of night peck at the first starsthat flash like my soul when I love you.The night gallops on its shadowy mareshedding blue tassels over the land."

"Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad netstowards your oceanic eyes.There in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames,its arms turning like a drowning man's.I send out red signals across your absent eyesthat smell like the sea or the beach by a lighthouse.You keep only darkness, my distant female,from your regard sometimes the coast of dread emerges.Leaning into the afternoons I fling my sad netsto that sea that is thrashed by your oceanic eyes.The birds of night peck at the first starsthat flash like my soul when I love you.The night gallops on its shadowy mareshedding blue tassels over the land."

Pablo Neruda, Chilean Writer

Poetry, Love, Emotion, Observation

47

"Moon! Moon! I am prone before you. Pity me, and drench me in loneliness."

"Moon! Moon! I am prone before you. Pity me, and drench me in loneliness."

Amy Lowell, American Poet

Poetry, Loneliness, Pity

47

"We recognise in the finished art, which is the result of these conditions, the best words in the best order - poetry; and to put this essential poetry into different classes is impossible."

"We recognise in the finished art, which is the result of these conditions, the best words in the best order - poetry; and to put this essential poetry into different classes is impossible."

John Drinkwater, English Poet

Poetry, Art, Order, Result

46

"Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for."

"Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for."

Jean Cocteau, French Director

46

"What actually makes poetry poetry is of course impossible to define. We recognize it when we hear it, when we see it, but we can't define it."

"What actually makes poetry poetry is of course impossible to define. We recognize it when we hear it, when we see it, but we can't define it."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

46

"Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes."

"Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes."

Joseph Roux, French Clergyman

Poetry, Truth, Clothes

46

"If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry."

"If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry."

Emily Dickinson, American Poet

Poetry, Body, Fire

46

"There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from fulfilling her natural destiny."

"There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from fulfilling her natural destiny."

Lafcadio Hearn, Japanese Author

Poetry, Destiny, Misfortune, Old

46

"I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now."

"I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now."

Norman MacCaig, Scottish Poet

Poetry, American, Now, Years

46

"You will find poetry nowhere unless you bring some of it with you."

"You will find poetry nowhere unless you bring some of it with you."

Joseph Joubert, French Writer

46

"PC stuff just lowers the general acceptance of good work and replaces it with bogus poetry that celebrates values that in themselves are probably quite worthy."

"PC stuff just lowers the general acceptance of good work and replaces it with bogus poetry that celebrates values that in themselves are probably quite worthy."

Diane Wakoski, American Poet

Poetry, Work, Values, Acceptance

45

"When you translate poetry in particular, you're obliged to look at how the writer with whom you're working puts together words, sentences, phrases, the triple tension between the line of verse, the syntax and the sentence."

"When you translate poetry in particular, you're obliged to look at how the writer with whom you're working puts together words, sentences, phrases, the triple tension between the line of verse, the syntax and the sentence."

Marilyn Hacker, American Poet

Poetry, Tension, Words, Writer

45

"A public expectation, it has to be said, not of poetry as such but of political positions variously approvable by mutually disapproving groups."

"A public expectation, it has to be said, not of poetry as such but of political positions variously approvable by mutually disapproving groups."

Seamus Heaney, Irish Poet

Poetry, Expectation, Public

45

"One can't write for all readers. A poet cannot write for people who don't like poetry."

"One can't write for all readers. A poet cannot write for people who don't like poetry."

Nathalie Sarraute, Russian Lawyer

45

"On the other hand, if there's an underlying core of poetry that I go to, I go to the sea. I've lived on the sea all my life. I live on the sea in Cape Breton."

"On the other hand, if there's an underlying core of poetry that I go to, I go to the sea. I've lived on the sea all my life. I live on the sea in Cape Breton."

Richard Serra, American Sculptor

Poetry, Life, Sea

45

"I'm sorry, man, but I've got magic. I've got poetry in my fingertips. Most of the time - and this includes naps - I'm an F-18, bro. And I will destroy you in the air. I will deploy my ordinance to the ground."

"I'm sorry, man, but I've got magic. I've got poetry in my fingertips. Most of the time - and this includes naps - I'm an F-18, bro. And I will destroy you in the air. I will deploy my ordinance to the ground."

Charlie Sheen, American Actor

Poetry, Time, Magic, Man

45

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