I used to be a discipline problem, which caused me embarrassment until I realized that being a discipline problem in a racist society is sometimes an honor.
Ishmael ReedRead
Writing poetry is the hard manual labor of the imagination.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing poetry requires significant creative effort and discipline.
Ishmael Reed's quote highlights the rigorous and demanding nature of poetry writing, comparing it to physical labor. This analogy emphasizes that crafting poetry involves deep imaginative work and dedication, often requiring the poet to exert mental effort similar to that of a laborer in physically demanding jobs.
Themes
PoetryImaginationCreativityLaborArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on creative writing, I would share this quote to inspire young poets about the effort behind their craft.
More from Ishmael Reed
All quotes →During the last decades, films about the black experience have been produced, directed, and even scripted by white men. Some of them are excellent. But most reflect George Bernard Shaw’s warning that 'if you do not tell your stories others will tell them for you and they will vulgarize and degrade you.'
Ishmael ReedRead
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