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
The thing about great poetry is we have no defenses against it. David Whyte defensegreatpoetry 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
If you've ever been to a poetry slam, you know that the highest scoring emotion is self-righteous indignation: how dare you judge me. So in that way, the poem, 'What Teachers Make,' is an absolutely formulaic slam poem designed to allow me to get up on my soap box and say, 'Let me tell you what really makes me angry.' Taylor Mali absolutelyangrybox share on social
I think the novel is not so much a literary genre, but a literary space, like a sea that is filled by many rivers. The novel receives streams of science, philosophy, poetry and contains all of these; it's not simply telling a story. Jose Saramago fillgenreliterary 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
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