Most people who write and publish poetry teach or do something else. Amy Gerstler peoplepoetrypublish Change image and share on social
Stadium rock and commercial rock are the opposite of what poetry needs. An audience of around 200 is ideal for poetry. Adrian Mitchell audiencecommercialideal Change image and share on social
The language of the Catholic Church - the liturgy, the prayer, the gospels - was in many ways my first poetry. Alice McDermott catholicchurchgospel Change image and share on social
If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we expect a vague answer, such as, 'Poetry is the music of words,' or 'Poetry is the linguistic correction of disorder.' A. R. Ammons answercorrectiondisorder Change image and share on social
Poetry helps me understand who I am. It helps me understand the world around me. But above all, what poetry has taught me is the fact that I need to embrace mystery in order to be completely human. Yusef Komunyakaa completelyembracefact Change image and share on social
Poetry is that sentiment of the soul, or faculty of the mind, which enables its possessor to appreciate and realize the heights and depths of human experience. It is the power to feel pleasure or suffer pain in all its exquisiteness and intensity. Orson F. Whitney depthenableexperience share on social
Poetry is the elder sister of history, the mother of language, the ancestress of civilization. Orson F. Whitney ancestresscivilizationelder Change image and share on social
The residue of religion in my work appears as a modified transcendentalism, and the positivist scientific side of my thought appears as concreteness and realism. The effort to reconcile the two is at the core of all my poetry. Louis Dudek appearconcretenesscore share on social
All good poetry is forged slowly and patiently, link by link, with sweat and blood and tears. Lord Alfred Douglas bloodforgegood Change image and share on social
People wish to be poets more than they wish to write poetry, and that's a mistake. One should wish to celebrate more than one wishes to be celebrated. Lucille Clifton celebratemistakepeople Change image and share on social