Poetry carries its history within it, and it is oral in origin. Its transmission was oral. Download Download Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Rotate quotes carry history oral
My feeling is that poetry will wither on the vine if you don't regularly come back to the simplest fundamentals of the poem: rhythm, rhyme, simple subjects - love, death, war. James Fenton backdeathfelt Change image and share on social
The iambic pentameter owes its pre-eminence in English poetry to its genius for variation. Good blank verse does not sound like a series of identically measured lines. It sounds like a series of subtle variations on the same theme. James Fenton blankeminenceenglish share on social
Working alone on a poem, a poet is of all artists the most free. The poem can be written with a modicum of technology, and can be published, in most cases, quite cheaply. James Fenton artistcasecheaply Change image and share on social
A myth is a lie that conceals or reveals a truth. But if it reveals even a strand of history or truth, that's what gets my adrenaline going. Ashwin Sanghi adrenalineconcealhistory Change image and share on social
I am a big one for subtlety and empathy. My dad was softly spoken and didn't carry his honours and accomplishments for everyone to see. Kyle MacLachlan accomplishmentbigcarry Change image and share on social
It is also one of the pleasures of oral biography, in that the reader, rather than editor, is jury. George Plimpton biographyeditorjury Change image and share on social