People fancy they hate poetry, and they are all poets and mystics!
Poetry Quotes
Poetry is a counterfeit creation, and makes things that are not, as though they were.
The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to the people, supplies a foundation for his edifice; and, in furnishing so much work done to his hand, leaves him at leisure, and in full strength for […]
Poetry is ordinary language raised to the nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words.
All good poetry is forged slowly and patiently, link by link, with sweat and blood and tears.
The only gift is a portion of thyself. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing.
O friend unseen, unborn, unknown, Student of our sweet English tongue, I never indulge in poetics – Unless I am down with rheumatics.
Poetry is not a profession, it is a destiny.
To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine.
Serious poetry today is chiefly an academic matter, a cult interest, presided over by teacher-priests, village explainers, to a transient audience of students, who, once out of the university, never have to deal with it again, and usually don’t.
