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

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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 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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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 find it's impossible for me to read Proust.

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

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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'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.