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

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.

I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.

When I was a teacher, teachers would come into my classroom and admire my desk...

When I was a teacher, teachers would come into my classroom and admire my desk...

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.

I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.

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

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

When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of...

When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of...

But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice...

But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice...

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 only keep books that I like very much. Otherwise I'd throw them out.

I only keep books that I like very much. Otherwise I'd throw them out.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and...

In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and...

People haven't got the interest in long long works these days. A lack of interest...

People haven't got the interest in long long works these days. A lack of interest...

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...

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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

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

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...