"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.
"Of the individual poems, some are more lyric and some are more descriptive or narrative. Each poem is fixed in a moment. All those moments written or read together take on the movement and architecture of a narrative"
"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"
"The point of an experiment is not to arrive at a predetermined end point, to prove or disprove anything, but to deliver a poem that reveals much about the process taken"
"Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression, and we are ever and anon reminded of them"
"The figure a poem makes. It begins in delight and ends in wisdom... in a clarification of life - not necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are founded on, but in a momentary stay against confusion"