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

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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'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.

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...

And if they haven't got poetry in them, there's nothing you can do that will...

And if they haven't got poetry in them, there's nothing you can do that will...

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...

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...

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.

I don't care whether a book is a first edition or not. I'm not a...

I don't care whether a book is a first edition or not. I'm not a...

And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions...

And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...