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

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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...

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

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.

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...

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 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 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.

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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...