It's absolutely crucial to maintain my life as a poet.
Edward HirschRead
Rhythm is sound in motion. It is related to the pulse, the heartbeat, the way we breathe. It rises and falls. It takes us into ourselves; it takes us out of ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Rhythm reflects the dynamic flow of life and emotions, connecting us deeply to ourselves and the world.
This quote suggests that rhythm is more than just a musical element; it embodies the essence of life itself. It encapsulates the natural cycles of existence—like our heartbeat and breath—drawing us inward for introspection while simultaneously connecting us outward to our experiences and surroundings. Rhythm, therefore, acts as a bridge between our internal and external worlds, highlighting the beauty of movement and change.
Themes
RhythmLifeMotionHeartbeatMusic
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of music in human experience.
More from Edward Hirsch
All quotes →The commitment to working at poetry is important because a poet is a maker, and a poem is a made thing. We have to honor our feelings by working to transform them into something meaningful and lasting.
Edward HirschRead
As far as I'm concerned, freedom is the most important thing to creativity. You should feel free to write in whatever way, whatever language, feels comfortable to you.
Edward HirschRead
The idea that a poem was a made thing stayed with me, and I decided then that I wanted to be an artist, not just a diarist. So I put myself through a kind of apprenticeship in writing poetry, and I understood even then that my practice as a poet was deeply related to my reading.
Edward HirschRead
And every year there is a brief, startling moment _x000D_ When we pause in the middle of a long walk home and _x000D_ Suddenly feel something invisible and weightless _x000D_ Touching our shoulders, sweeping down from the air: _x000D_ It is the autumn wind pressing against our bodies; _x000D_ It is the changing light of fall falling on us.
Edward HirschRead
When poetry separates from song, then the words have to carry all the rhythm themselves; they have to do all the work. They can't rely on the singing voice.
Edward HirschRead
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