I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I receiv’d nor rhyme nor reason. (According to legend, Queen Elizabeth promised Spenser 100 pounds for a poem. When the Royal Treasurer, Lord Burghley, objected to the expense, the Queen replied, “Then give him what is reason.” […]
Poetry Quotes
Whatever the poets pretend, it is plain they give immortality to none but themselves; it is Homer and Virgil we reverence and admire, not Achilles and Aeneas.
Every good poet includes a critic, but the reverse will not hold.
The poet’s scrolls will outlive the monuments of stone. Genius survives; all else is claimed by death.
So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller fleas to bite ’em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Thus every poet, in his kind Is bit by him that comes behind.
What a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped of the colors which music puts upon them, and recited in simple prose.
Plain hoss-sense in poetry-writen’Would jes’knock sentiment a-kitin’! Mostly poets is all star-gazin’And moanin’and groanin’and paraphrasin’! A Wholly Unscholastic Opinion,
Tis a fine thing for children to learn to make verse; but when they come to be men, they must speak like other men, or else they will be laughed at.
With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.
If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not a poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.
