And at least in poetry you should feel free to lie. That is, not to lie, but to imagine what you want, to follow the direction of the poem.
Mark StrandRead
The number of people writing poems is vast, and their reasons for doing so are many, that much can be surmised from the stacks of submissions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Many people write poetry for various reasons, illustrating the diverse nature of poetic expression.
Mark Strand reflects on the vast number of individuals engaged in writing poetry, suggesting that their motivations are equally numerous and complex. This observation highlights the richness and diversity of poetic expression within society, as every poet brings their unique voice and purpose to their creations, contributing to the broader tapestry of literature.
Themes
PoetryExpressionMotivationDiversity
In practice
Example use cases
In a poetry workshop, to encourage participants to explore their reasons for writing, you might say this quote to inspire conversation.
More from Mark Strand
All quotes β...In another time, What cannot be seen will define us, and we shall be prompted To say that language is error, and all things are wronged By representation. The self, we shall say, can never be Seen with a disguise, and never be seen without one.
Mark StrandRead
Even this late it happens the coming of love, the coming of light. You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves, stars gather, dreams pour into your pillows, sending up warm bouquets of air. Even this late the bones of the body shine and tomorrowβs dust flares into breath.
Mark StrandRead
No voice comes from outer space, from the folds of dust and carpets of wind to tell us that this is the way it was meant to happen, that if only we knew how long the ruins would last we would never complain.
Mark StrandRead
From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,_x000D_ A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your room_x000D_ And made its way to the arm of the chair where you, looking up_x000D_ From your book, saw it the moment it landed. That's all_x000D_ There was to it.
Mark StrandRead
There's a certain point, when you're writing autobiographical stuff, where you don't want to misrepresent yourself. It would be dishonest.
Mark StrandRead
Similar quotes
A special kind of beauty exists which is born in language, of language, and for language.
Gaston BachelardRead
There's a crystallization that goes on in a poem which the young man can bring off, but which the middle-aged man can't.
John UpdikeRead
We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.
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You don't know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It's all in the practice.
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Art is a manifestation of emotion, and emotion speaks a language that all may understand.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
There are two moments worthwhile in writing, the one when you start and the other when you throw it in the waste-paper basket.
Samuel BeckettRead