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

It's very hard to write humor.

It's very hard to write humor.

- Mark Strand

I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony.

I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony.

- 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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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