Author: Mark Strand

Quotes

A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of course, the life has been made into an art.

A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of course, the life has been made into an art.

- Mark Strand

Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure.

Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure.

- Mark Strand

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.

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

Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented.

Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented.

- Mark Strand

And Robert Lowell, of course - in his poems, we're not located in his actual life. We're located more in the externals, in the journalistic facts of his life.

And Robert Lowell, of course - in his poems, we're not located in his actual life. We're located more in the externals, in the journalistic facts of his life.

- Mark Strand

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

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

- Mark Strand

I am not concerned with truth, nor with conventional notions of what is beautiful.

I am not concerned with truth, nor with conventional notions of what is beautiful.

- Mark Strand

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.

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

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.

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

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