The trouble with the performance poets is that they don't seem to have read anything. So there is not a real sense of the poetic tradition in their work.

Quote by Peter Davison

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I think poetry has lost an awful lot of its muscle because nobody knows any....

I think poetry has lost an awful lot of its muscle because nobody knows any....

For instance, it's a little better now than it was two or three years ago,...

For instance, it's a little better now than it was two or three years ago,...

The problem, for me, with the writing programs is that they produce a terrible uniformity...

The problem, for me, with the writing programs is that they produce a terrible uniformity...

In order to understand what they need to understand, in order to write what they...

In order to understand what they need to understand, in order to write what they...

There are so many things that poetry is about, one of which is memory.

There are so many things that poetry is about, one of which is memory.

The reason one writes poems is so that your poem will be remembered.

The reason one writes poems is so that your poem will be remembered.

But there is some way in which poets believe that and this is dangerous, too...

But there is some way in which poets believe that and this is dangerous, too...

It is a way we reassess our past. We can do that in poetry in...

It is a way we reassess our past. We can do that in poetry in...

But for me, being an editor I've been an editor of all kinds of books...

But for me, being an editor I've been an editor of all kinds of books...

Poetry should be able to reach everybody, and it should be able to appeal to...

Poetry should be able to reach everybody, and it should be able to appeal to...

I just think that some version of the past in our culture is going to...

I just think that some version of the past in our culture is going to...

If poets were realistic, they wouldn't be poets.

If poets were realistic, they wouldn't be poets.

Dealing with poetry is a daunting task, simply because the reason one does it as...

Dealing with poetry is a daunting task, simply because the reason one does it as...

Poetry is composing for the breath.

Poetry is composing for the breath.

The relation between a poet and audience is really insignificant. What matters is the poet...

The relation between a poet and audience is really insignificant. What matters is the poet...

They need to learn poetry. They don't need to learn about poetry. They don't need...

They need to learn poetry. They don't need to learn about poetry. They don't need...

It is very difficult for people to come in contact with their own emotions and...

It is very difficult for people to come in contact with their own emotions and...

And there are a lot more people reading poetry, but there are not so many...

And there are a lot more people reading poetry, but there are not so many...

In my youth, I found that I was quite often inspired and pushed forward by...

In my youth, I found that I was quite often inspired and pushed forward by...

The more poetry you have in the head, the more poetry you will understand because...

The more poetry you have in the head, the more poetry you will understand because...