Poetry is the exquisite expression of exquisite expressions. Joseph Roux on poetry
It takes most men five years to recover from a college education, and to learn that poetry is as vital to thinking as knowledge. Brooks Atkinson on poetry
A lot happens by accident in poetry. Howard Nemerov on poetry
I think there was a revolution in poetry, associated chiefly with Eliot and Pound but maybe it is of the nature of revolutions or of the nature of history that their innovations should later come to look trivial or indistinguishable from technical tricks. Howard Nemerov on poetry
I've never read a political poem that's accomplished anything. Poetry makes things happen, but rarely what the poet wants. Howard Nemerov on poetry
Marriage - a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters in prose. Beverley Nichols on poetry
The world is full of poetry. The air is living with its spirit and the waves dance to the music of its melodies, and sparkle in its brightness. James Gates Percival on poetry
I like the beauty of Faulkner's poetry. But I don't like his themes, not at all. Manuel Puig on poetry
Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things. Matthew Arnold on poetry
As for how criticism of Keats' poetry relates to criticism of my own work, I'll leave that for others to decide. Jane Campion on poetry
I have to admit that I had a lot of problems with poetry. Jane Campion on poetry
And, I mean, I think poetry does need to be met to some extent, especially, I guess, 19th century poetry, and for me, it's just been so worth the effort. It's like I'm planting a garden in my head. Jane Campion on poetry
Poetry is rather an approach to things, to life, than it is typographical production. Joseph Brodsky on poetry
Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets make way for others. Antonin Artaud on poetry
Poetry is the deification of reality. Edith Sitwell on poetry
While also, importantly, not wanting to dumb it down or pretend the days of 'difficult' poetry are over, because we live in a pluralist culture and there's room for 'difficult' poetry alongside rap and everything else. And poetry won't be for everyone, but everyone should have the choice. Andrew Motion on poetry
I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I think those are the two elements of poetry. Rita Dove on poetry
Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture. Rita Dove on poetry
Instead of trying to come up and pontificate on what literature is, you need to talk with children, to teachers, and make sure they get poetry in the curriculum early. Rita Dove on poetry