(W)hy is poetry wholly an elderly taste? When I was twenty…
““(W)hy is poetry wholly an elderly taste? When I was twenty I could not for the life of me read Shakespeare for pleasure; now it lights me as I walk to think I have two acts of King John tonight, and shall next read Richard the Second. It is poetry that I want now -- long poems. I want the concentration and the romance, and the words all glued together, fused, glowing; having no time to waste any more on prose. When I was twenty I liked Eighteenth Century prose; now it's poetry I want, so I repeat like a tipsy sailor in the front of a public house.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reflects on how age changes literary taste, preferring poetry’s depth and intensity over prose.
In simple terms: Aging shifts preference toward richer, poetic works.
Key Takeaway
Embrace evolving tastes.
Themes
literature
age
taste
poetry
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- reading choices
- academic study
- personal growth
- creative writing
Key Concepts
aesthetic evolution
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How does age affect your artistic preferences?
- Why might poetry feel more urgent now?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize poetry, ignoring prose value.