The community of poets I belong to is not as close as it used to be, if only for the fact that our lives have become busier: jobs, children, and the like. John Barton belongbusychild Change image and share on social
Some readers allow their prejudices to blind them. A good reader knows how to disregard inappropriate responses. John Barton blinddisregardgood Change image and share on social
If poetry alters the way in which the reader views the world, then it has had its desired effect. John Barton alterdesireeffect Change image and share on social
Poets can't resist the dramatic pull of their lives and so inevitably write autobiographical verse. John Barton autobiographicaldramaticinevitably Change image and share on social
The poet must decide not to impose his feelings in order to write without sentimentality. John Barton decidefeelingimpose Change image and share on social
I have always been very obsessed with time. Time's passage makes us all very vulnerable and because we all experience it in our own way, it can make us feel very alone. John Barton experiencefeelmake Change image and share on social
I have been told by a member of the board of one of Canada's most prominent literary magazines that a submission of mine once caused a great deal of controversy. John Barton boardcanadacause Change image and share on social
The reader's challenge is to replicate the experiment by reading the poem and to draw their own conclusions. John Barton challengeconclusiondraw Change image and share on social
Poetry is but another form of inquiry into the nature of phenomena, using with its own unique procedures and tools. John Barton forminquirynature Change image and share on social
My obsession with time informs my poetry so completely it is hard for me to summarize it. We want time to pass, for new things to happen to us, we want to hold on to certain moments, we don't want our lives to end. John Barton completelyendhappen share on social