In my own work, I usually revise through forty or fifty drafts of a poem before I begin to feel content with it. Other poets take longer.
Poetry Quotes
He who, in an enlightened and literary society, aspires to be a great poet, must first become a little child.
Poets as we know have always made a great use of alliteration. They are persuaded that the repetition of a sound give an effect of beauty. I do not think it does in prose. It seems to me that in prose alliteration should be used only for a special reason; when used by accident it […]
We have more poets than judges and interpreters of poetry. It is easier to write an indifferent poem than to understand a good one.
Here is Robert Frost, last of the antiques, celebrating the inauguration of old-fashioned high-binder John F. Kennedy: Some poor fool has been saying in his heart Glory is out of date in life and art. Our venture in revolution and outlawry Has justified itself in freedom’s story Right down to now in glory upon glory. […]
By poetry we mean the art of employing of words in such a manner as to produce an illusion on the imagination; the art of doing by means of words, what the painter does by means of colors.
Hurrah, Mr. Nash, for your writings laughable! We like you surly, we love you affable, And think your poems designed for the nursery Almost the best in your bulging versery.
Slang is a poor man’s poetry.
Winston roused himself a little from his lethargy. He must speak to Ampleforth, and risk the yell from the telescreen. It was even conceivable that Ampleforth was the bearer of the razor blade. “Ampleforth,” he said. There was no yell from the telescreen. Ampleforth paused, mildly startled. His eyes focused themselves slowly on Winston. “Ah, […]
A prize poem is like a prize sheep. The object of the competitor for the agricultural premium is to produce an animal fit, not to be eaten, but to be weighed. Accordingly he pampers his victim into morbid and unnatural fatness; and, when it is in such a state that it would be sent away […]
