All the lessons learned, unlearned; The young, who learned to read, now blind, Their eyes with an archaic film; The peasant relapses to a stumbling tune, Following the donkey's bray; These only remember to forget. But somewhere some word presses,… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
The iron arc of the avoiding journey Curves back upon my weakness at the end; Whether the faint light spark against my face Or in the dark my sight hide from my sight, Centre and circumference are both my weakness. — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
I think continually of those who were truly great . Who, from the womb, remembered the soul 's history Through corridors of light where… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
Since we are what we are, what shall we be But what we are? We are, we have Six feet and seventy years, to… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
One of my great surprises when I was in America was about twenty-five years ago in Harvard, hearing Randall Jarrell deliver a bitter attack… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
What is precious is never to forget, The delight of the blood drawn from ancient springs, Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth;… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
If you get to a certain age, all people want to know about you is people you knew. ...An American student once said to… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
Involved in my own entrails and a crust Turning a pitted surface towards a space, I am a world that watches through a sky… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
Although Poets are vain and ambitious, their vanity and ambition are of the purest kind attainable in this world. They are ambitious to be… — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
Great poetry is always written by somebody straining to go beyond what he can do. — Stephen Spender Copy Share Image
