"I think of poets as outlaw visionaries in a way"

This quote by Jim Jarmusch speaks with the distinct and typically misconstrued function of poets in society. By calling them "forbid visionaries," Jarmusch is suggesting that poets are not bound by the exact same guidelines and conventions as the rest of us. They are free to reveal themselves in ways that are frequently non-traditional and even rebellious. Poets have the ability to see the world in a different way, and they are not afraid to challenge the status quo. They are able to look beyond the surface of things and see the deeper facts that lie beneath. They are able to reveal these realities in manner ins which are frequently poetic and beautiful. In this way, poets have the ability to offer us with an unique viewpoint on the world that can be both motivating and thought-provoking.