And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

I said I have no powers of invention. Well, I also have no powers of...

I said I have no powers of invention. Well, I also have no powers of...

And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers....

And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers....

I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for...

I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for...

Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...

Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...

I used to have a great love for Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, the big boys of...

I used to have a great love for Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, the big boys of...

When I talk of hearing a poet's voice speaking, I always think of it as...

When I talk of hearing a poet's voice speaking, I always think of it as...

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.

I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.

All I write about is what's happened to me and to people I know, and...

All I write about is what's happened to me and to people I know, and...

But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to...

But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to...

However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry...

However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry...

Well, I'm a light traveller. I chuck things away.

Well, I'm a light traveller. I chuck things away.

There are some friends you don't meet for twenty years and when you meet them...

There are some friends you don't meet for twenty years and when you meet them...

It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone...

It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone...

I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.

I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry...

All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry...

When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't...

When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't...

And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk...

If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk...