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She [Carol Parsinan] somehow read my poems and came back…

“She [Carol Parsinan] somehow read my poems and came back to me and convinced me that I could be a poet, that I had the passion and the enthusiasm and the creativity to become a poet, but that what I was writing was not poetry because I was just expressing my feelings and I wasn't try to make…” quote by Edward Hirsch
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“She [Carol Parsinan] somehow read my poems and came back to me and convinced me that I could be a poet, that I had the passion and the enthusiasm and the creativity to become a poet, but that what I was writing was not poetry because I was just expressing my feelings and I wasn't try to make anything.”

Edward Hirsch

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A mentor’s validation sparked poetic confidence, yet the poet doubts the artistic merit of his feeling‑driven work.

In simple terms: Confidence vs. artistic doubt.

Key Takeaway

Trust your voice, refine craft.

Themes

creativity validation self‑doubt

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

interview literary

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • self‑reflection
  • teaching

Key Concepts

literary theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What defines poetry for you?
  • How do you balance feeling and form?
A Different Perspective

May ignore technical skill.

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