Poetry is a street fighter. It has sharp elbows. It can look after itself. Poetry can't be used for manipulation; it's why you never see good poetry in advertising.
David WhyteRead
It might be liberating to think of human life as informed by losses and disappearances as much as by gifted appearances, allowing a more present participation and witness to the difficulty of living.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is shaped by both losses and gains, encouraging a more engaged and mindful presence in our experiences.
David Whyte's quote suggests that recognizing the inevitability of loss and disappearance in life can bring a sense of liberation. By acknowledging these difficult aspects alongside our gifts and appearances, we can cultivate a deeper awareness and appreciation for the complexities of living, ultimately allowing us to engage more fully in our experiences and relationships.
Themes
LossLifeLivingExperienceAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on resilience, one might cite this quote to illustrate the balance of joy and sorrow in life.
More from David Whyte
All quotes →Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future.
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By definition, poetry works with qualities and dynamics that mainstream society is reluctant to face head-on. It's an interesting phenomenon that by necessity, poetry is just below the radar.
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The severest test of work today, is not of our strategies, but of our imaginations and identities.
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We learn, grow and become compassionate and generous as much through exile as homecoming, as much through loss as gain, as much through giving things away as in receiving what we believe to be our due.
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