"The reason one writes poems is so that your poem will be remembered"
- Peter Davison
About this Quote
This quote by Peter Davison speaks with the power of poetry and the desire of poets to be kept in mind. Composing a poem is an act of self-expression, but it is also an act of communication. By writing a poem, a poet is wanting to connect with an audience and to leave a lasting impression. The poet wishes to be remembered for their work, and to have their words linger in the minds of readers. Writing a poem is a method to celebrate one's ideas and sensations, and to create something that will outlive the poet. It is a way to make a lasting impact on the world, and to leave a tradition that will be kept in mind for generations to come.
"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem"
"The heart of the matter seems to me to be the direct interaction between one's making a poem in English and a poem in the language that one understands and values. I don't see how you can do it otherwise"
"A revolutionary poem will not tell you who or when to kill, what and when to burn, or even how to theorize. It reminds you... where and when and how you are living and might live, it is a wick of desire"
