Definition, rationality, and structure are ways of seeing, but they become prisons when they blank out other ways of seeing. A. R. Ammons blankdefinitionprison Change image and share on social
I am grateful for - though I can't keep up with - the flood of articles, theses, and textbooks that mean to share insight concerning the nature of poetry. A. R. Ammons articlefloodgrateful Change image and share on social
Poetry leads us to the unstructured sources of our beings, to the unknown, and returns us to our rational, structured selves refreshed. A. R. Ammons beingleadpoetry Change image and share on social
Is it not careless to become too local when there are four hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone. A. R. Ammons billioncarelessgalaxy Change image and share on social
If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we expect a vague answer, such as, 'Poetry is the music of words,' or 'Poetry is the linguistic correction of disorder.' A. R. Ammons answercorrectiondisorder Change image and share on social
I can't tell you where a poem comes from, what it is, or what it is for: nor can any other man. The reason I can't tell you is that the purpose of a poem is to go past telling, to be recognised by burning. A. R. Ammons burnmanpast share on social
Anything looked at closely becomes wonderful. A. R. Ammons closelylookwonderful Change image and share on social
The poet exposes himself to the risk. All that has been said about poetry, all that he has learned about poetry, is only a partial assurance. A. R. Ammons assuranceexposelearn Change image and share on social
If a poem is each time new, then it is necessarily an act of discovery, a chance taken, a chance that may lead to fulfillment or disaster. A. R. Ammons actchancedisaster Change image and share on social
