The first question at that time in poetry was simply the question of honesty, of sincerity. George Oppen on poetry
Freedom is poetry, taking liberties with words, breaking the rules of normal speech, violating common sense. Freedom is violence. Norman O. Brown on poetry
Stadium rock and commercial rock are the opposite of what poetry needs. An audience of around 200 is ideal for poetry. Adrian Mitchell on poetry
I use rock and jazz and blues rhythms because I love that music. I hope my poetry has a relationship with good-time rock'n roll. Adrian Mitchell on poetry
Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry. Georges Braque on poetry
Well, I write a lot of poetry - that's where it usually all starts. I definitely want to show you guys sides of me - love, loss, heartbreak - all of that good stuff! Tristan Wilds on poetry
Too many people in the modern world view poetry as a luxury, not a necessity like petrol. But to me it's the oil of life. John Betjeman on poetry
For poetry there exists neither large countries nor small. Its domain is in the heart of all men. Giorgos Seferis on poetry
The urge to write poetry is like having an itch. When the itch becomes annoying enough, you scratch it. Robert Penn Warren on poetry
My father had wanted to name me for Dylan Thomas. He had seen him speak on one of those drunken poetry tours he did. Dylan Walsh on poetry
I found that it wasn't so oddball to like music and poetry and visual arts, they're kindred spirits. J. Carter Brown on poetry
I think it was T.S. Eliot who talked about good poetry being felt before it's understood. I believe that. There are some bands where I love their lyrics but I don't have a clue what they're on about. Marcus Mumford on poetry
I don't think Auden liked my poetry very much, he's very Anglican. Stevie Smith on poetry
All poetry has to do is to make a strong communication. All the poet has to do is listen. The poet is not an important fellow. There will also be another poet. Stevie Smith on poetry
Religion is no more possible without prayer than poetry without language, or music without atmosphere. James Martineau on poetry
There's not a good poet I know who has not at the beck and call of his memory a vast quantity of poetry that composes his mental library. Anthony Hecht on poetry
What is poetry which does not save nations or people? Czeslaw Milosz on poetry
Theater and poetry were what helped people stay alive and want to go on living. Vanessa Redgrave on poetry
I started off in England and very few people knew I was Australian. I mean, the clues were in the poems, but they didn't read them very carefully, and so for years and years I was considered completely part of the English poetry scene. Peter Porter on poetry
Poetry is of so subtle a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate. John Denham on poetry