I try not to think in terms of what poems or poets should…
“I try not to think in terms of what poems or poets should do. Most of us appreciate a wide diversity in music, in cooking, in movies, but in our own medium, poetry, we often fail to make allowances for tastes and projects other than our own.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author urges openness to varied poetic styles, warning against imposing narrow expectations on poets.
In simple terms: Accept diverse poetry, avoid strict expectations.
Embrace varied poetic voices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- creative writing workshops
- publishing decisions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we broaden our poetic tastes?
- What limits does personal bias impose?
Poetry often resists uniform standards.