A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself. E. M. Forster hanginformationpoem Change image and share on social
A poem may be an instance of morality, of social conditions, of psychological history; it may instance all its qualities, but never one of them alone, nor any two or three; never less than all. Allen Tate conditionhistoryinstance Change image and share on social
A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings - about human feelings and frailties. Anne Stevenson definefeelingfrailty Change image and share on social
A poem records emotions and moods that lie beyond normal language, that can only be patched together and hinted at metaphorically. Diane Ackerman emotionhintlanguage Change image and share on social
A poem with grandly conceived and executed stanzas, such as one of Keats's odes, should be like an enfilade of rooms in a palace: one proceeds, with eager anticipation, from room to room. James Fenton anticipationconceiveeager Change image and share on social
A poet can feel free, in my estimation, to write a poem for himself. Or a painter can paint a painting for himself. You can write a short story for yourself. But for me, comedy by its nature is communal. If other people don't get it, I'm not sure why you are doing it. Keegan-Michael Key comedycommunalestimation share on social
A poet can survive everything but a misprint. Oscar Wilde misprintpoetsurvive Change image and share on social
A poet clings to his own tradition and avoids internationalism. Salvatore Quasimodo avoidclinginternationalism Change image and share on social
A poet could write volumes about diners, because they're so beautiful. They're brightly lit, with chrome and booths and Naugahyde and great waitresses. Now, it might not be so great in the health department, but I think diner food is really worth experiencing periodically. David Lynch beautifulboothbrightly share on social
A poet in history is divine, but a poet in the next room is a joke. Max Eastman divinehistoryjoke Change image and share on social