I've been fascinated over the years by the way refrains work. Think, say, of the refrains in Yeats' ballads. Ideally, each time the refrain comes back in a poem, it is both the same and different. It works by counterpoint and reiteration. It accrues meaning. Edward Hirsch accruebackballad share on social
The terms of poetry - some simple, some complicated, some ancient, some new - should bring us closer to what we're hearing, enlarging our experience of it, enabling us to describe what we're reading, to feel and think with greater precision. Edward Hirsch ancientbringclose share on social
As soon as something happens to us in America, everyone begins talking about healing. But before you heal, you have to mourn. Edward Hirsch americabeginheal Change image and share on social
As far as I'm concerned, freedom is the most important thing to creativity. You should feel free to write in whatever way, whatever language, feels comfortable to you. Edward Hirsch comfortableconcerncreativity Change image and share on social
The very good thing about MFA programs is their democratizing. They bring a lot of different people to the table. Edward Hirsch bringdemocratizegood Change image and share on social
Poetry takes courage because you have to face things and you try to articulate how you feel. Edward Hirsch articulatecourageface Change image and share on social
One of the things that distinguishes poetry from ordinary speech is that in a very few number of words, poetry captures some kind of deep feeling, and rhythm is the way to get there. Rhythm is the way the poetry carries itself. Edward Hirsch capturecarrydeep share on social
I don't think you can read poetry while you're watching television very well. Edward Hirsch poetryreadtelevision Change image and share on social
'Liberty Brass' is a small machine that unfolds in a single unpunctuated wave, which is interrupted by the rotating sign, the refrain. Each part is meant to do its work in relentless progression. Edward Hirsch brasinterruptliberty Change image and share on social
I like the machinery of poems, especially when they have human warmth. Edward Hirsch humanmachinerypoem Change image and share on social
