Mark Strand Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“From the reader's view, a poem is more demanding than prose.”

“Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented.”

“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.”

“I tend to like poems that engage me - that is to say, which do not bore me.”

“Nothing is the destiny of everyone, it is our commonness made dumb.”

“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.”

“But I tend to think of the expressive part of me as rather tedious - never curious or responsive, but blind and self-serving.”

“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.”

“It's very hard to write humor.”

“Poetry is something that happens in universities, in creative writing programs or in English departments.”