The future is always beginning now. Mark Strand on future
It's very hard to write humor. Mark Strand on humor
Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented. Mark Strand on poetry
Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure. Mark Strand on poetry
Poetry is, first and last, language - the rest is filler. Mark Strand on poetry
Poetry is something that happens in universities, in creative writing programs or in English departments. Mark Strand on poetry
I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony. Mark Strand on poetry
I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality. Mark Strand on poetry
I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream. Mark Strand on poetry
I believe that all poetry is formal in that it exists within limits, limits that are either inherited by tradition or limits that language itself imposes. Mark Strand on poetry
And yet, in a culture like ours, which is given to material comforts, and addicted to forms of entertainment that offer immediate gratification, it is surprising that so much poetry is written. Mark Strand on poetry
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 Strand on poetry
A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of course, the life has been made into an art. Mark Strand on poetry
A great many people seem to think writing poetry is worthwhile, even though it pays next to nothing and is not as widely read as it should be. Mark Strand on poetry