American poetry is this country's greatest patrimony. It takes a stranger to see some things clearly. This is one of them, and I am that stranger.
Interpretation
American poetry is a vital part of the nation's heritage, and perspective from an outsider can reveal its true value.
In this quote, Joseph Brodsky articulates the idea that American poetry represents an essential aspect of the nation's cultural heritage, which may often be overlooked by its own citizens. He suggests that an outsider's fresh perspective can illuminate the unique qualities and significance of American poetry, allowing for a deeper appreciation of its contributions to the country's identity.
In practice
During a lecture on American literature, I referenced Brodsky's quote to highlight the significance of poetry in our national identity.
Basically, it's hard for me to assess myself, a hardship not only prompted by the immodesty of the enterprise, but because one is not capable of assessing himself, let alone his work. However, if I were to summarize, my main interest is the nature of time. That's what interests me most of all. What time can do to a man.
One always pulls the trigger out of self-interest and quotes history to avoid responsibility or pangs of conscience.
On the whole, infinity is a fairly palpable aspect of this business of publishing, if only because it extends a dead author's existence beyond the limits he envisioned, or provides a living author with a future he cannot measure. In other words, this business deals with the future which we all prefer to regard as unending.
The invention of ethical and political doctrines, which blossomed into our own social sciences, is a product of times when things appeared manageable. The same goes for the criticism of those doctrines, though as a voice from the past, this criticism proved prophetic.
Try not to pay attention to those who will try to make life miserable for you. There will be a lot of those - in the official capacity as well as the self-appointed.
To put it in plain language, Russia is that country where the name of a writer appears not on the cover of his book, but on the door of his prison cell.
They wasn't gonna give you nothin'. I didn't care as long as they let me play my music. Cash on the spot... You cheat me and I'm gonna get me some money, too.
You don't have to make something in order to retain your identity as an artist or a writer or a creative person. A lot of people think they have to be producing in order to maintain that identity.
The reality of a poem is a very ghostly one. It suggests, it suggests, it suggests again.
When something really hits me, it makes me want to either jump off something really high or lie down and be buried. I want people to get hit and caught by my music.
You want to be a writer, don't know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.
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