It is a happy thing that there is no royal road to poetry. The world should know by this time that one cannot reach Parnassus except by flying thither. Gerard Manley Hopkins flyhappyparnassus Change image and share on social
The founding father of Albanian literature is the nineteenth-century writer Naim Frasheri. Without having the greatness of Dante or Shakespeare, he is nonetheless the founder, the emblematic character. He wrote long epic poems, as well as lyrical poetry, to awaken the national consciousness of Albania. Ismail Kadare albanianawakencentury share on social
Deep feeling doesn't make for good poetry. A way with language would be a bit of help. Thom Gunn bitedeepfelt Change image and share on social
Listen, real poetry doesn't say anything; it just ticks off the possibilities. Opens all doors. You can walk through any one that suits you. Jim Morrison doorlistenopen Change image and share on social
To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to see it with our ears. Octavio Paz eareyehear Change image and share on social
The muse, the beloved, and duende are three ways of thinking of what is the source of poetry, and all three seem to me different names or different ways to think about something that is not entirely reasonable, not entirely subject to the will, not entirely rational. Edward Hirsch belovedduendemuse share on social
The thing about great poetry is we have no defenses against it. David Whyte defensegreatpoetry Change image and share on social
I never really liked poetry readings; I liked to read poetry by myself, but I liked singing, chanting my lyrics to this jazz group. Leonard Cohen chantgroupjazz Change image and share on social
Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them. Dennis Gabor heartstringmakemusic Change image and share on social
Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted. Percy Bysshe Shelley beautifuldistortmake Change image and share on social