--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a poet, like a painter, should be…" description: "\"I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.\" — Anne Stevenson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png" --- # I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson. ![“I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.” quote by Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png) > “I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.” [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry, like painting, should be treated as a craft, emphasizing skill, technique, and dedication over mere inspiration. **In simple terms:** Poetry is a craft like painting. Key Takeaway Approach poetry with disciplined practice. Themes art craft skill discipline creativity Mood thoughtful educational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing workshops - art education - self‑discipline Key Concepts aesthetics literary theory skill development Questions to Reflect On - How does craft improve artistic work? - What balance between skill and inspiration? A Different Perspective Focusing on craft may limit spontaneous expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/people-write-me-from-all-over-the-country-asking-me-and-sometimes/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [I want it to be more universal than that - like a painter doesn't have to explain his life story away to justify his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-orton/i-want-it-to-be-more-universal-than-that-like-a-painter-doesn-t-have/) [Beth Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-orton/) > [The Black Mountain poet I like most is the early Creeley. Those early poems seem very lyrical and very traditional, with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-black-mountain-poet-i-like-most-is-the-early-creeley-those-early/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [the poet like an acrobat climbs on rime to a high wire of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/the-poet-like-an-acrobat-climbs-on-rime-to-a-high-wire-of-his-own/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The poet is like the wise fool or like a version of the stand-up, because we're standing, we're doing stand-up. That's exactly what we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-myles/the-poet-is-like-the-wise-fool-or-like-a-version-of-the-stand-up/) [Eileen Myles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-myles/) > [The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-poet-like-the-lover-is-a-menace-on-the-assembly-line/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Constantly risking absurdity and death whenever he performs above the heads of his audience the poet like an acrobat climbs on rime to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/constantly-risking-absurdity-and-death-whenever-he-performs-above-the-2/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“YOU SAY "POET" LIKE THAT MEANS SOMETHING.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-king/you-say-poet-like-that-means-something/) [Amy King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-king/) > [I happen to believe that there are a lot of good poets around at present, but a poet like Alex Kuo, who possesses a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/i-happen-to-believe-that-there-are-a-lot-of-good-poets-around-at/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“He kisses like a poet. Like he's writing poems on my lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/he-kisses-like-a-poet-like-he-s-writing-poems-on-my-lips/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [“(1)BEING A POET is like opening a car door & exposing yourself. (2)BEING A GOOD POET is like opening the door & exposing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chocolate-waters/1-being-a-poet-is-like-opening-a-car-door-exposing-yourself-2-being-a/) [Chocolate Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chocolate-waters/) > [The poet, like the lover, is a person unable to reconcile what he knows with what he feels. His peculiarity is that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babette-deutsch/the-poet-like-the-lover-is-a-person-unable-to-reconcile-what-he-knows/) [Babette Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babette-deutsch/) > [I don't know if I call myself a poet or not. I would like to, but I'm not really qualified to make that decision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-know-if-i-call-myself-a-poet-or-not-i-would-like-to-but-i-m/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I'm a poet, and I like my lies the way my mother used to make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/i-m-a-poet-and-i-like-my-lies-the-way-my-mother-used-to-make-them/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The true poet, is like a man who's happy anywhere, in endless measure, if he's allowed to look at leaves and grass, to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/the-true-poet-is-like-a-man-who-s-happy-anywhere-in-endless-measure/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) ## More by Anne Stevenson > [Yes, I do often write poems from the mind, but I hope I don't ignore feelings and emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/yes-i-do-often-write-poems-from-the-mind-but-i-hope-i-don-t-ignore/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life - though I have tried of late to cooperate more with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-have-always-made-my-own-rules-in-poetry-as-in-life-though-i-have/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I write, or used to write, to explain to myself situations I couldn't otherwise solve or understand. Meditation comes very naturally to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-write-or-used-to-write-to-explain-to-myself-situations-i-couldn-t/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself and others the complexities of a marriage that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-did-know-ted-hughes-and-i-partly-wrote-the-book-to-explain-to/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [Sylvia Plath was just a month and a half older than I, and when she committed suicide I was only 30 - and very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/sylvia-plath-was-just-a-month-and-a-half-older-than-i-and-when-she/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/each-word-bears-its-weight-so-you-have-to-read-my-poems-quite-slowly/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [Blake has always been a favorite, the lyrics, not so much the prophetic books, but I suppose Yeats influenced me more as a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/blake-has-always-been-a-favorite-the-lyrics-not-so-much-the-prophetic/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings - about human feelings and frailties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/a-poem-might-be-defined-as-thinking-about-feelings-about-human/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I married a young Englishman in Cambridge in 1955 and have lived in Britain every since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-married-a-young-englishman-in-cambridge-in-1955-and-have-lived-in/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [You've got criminal courts and child welfare officials refusing to do their jobs and protect children so they can shift the cases over to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/you-ve-got-criminal-courts-and-child-welfare-officials-refusing-to-do/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [There comes a time when you have to trust your own judgment, when you must close your eyes and let your instinct rule you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/there-comes-a-time-when-you-have-to-trust-your-own-judgment-when-you/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [A hobbyhorse can be a tiring ride for nonenthusiasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/a-hobbyhorse-can-be-a-tiring-ride-for-nonenthusiasts/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [Mind led body to the edge of the precipice. They stared in desire at the naked abyss. If you love me, said mind, take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/mind-led-body-to-the-edge-of-the-precipice-they-stared-in-desire-at/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [Blackbirds are the cellos of the deep farms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/blackbirds-are-the-cellos-of-the-deep-farms/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [I'm not really quiet or shy. Ask any of my friends! But I always ground my poetry in life itself. Poetry is an art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-m-not-really-quiet-or-shy-ask-any-of-my-friends-but-i-always-ground/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) [Explore all 33 Anne Stevenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne Stevenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be-a-craftsperson/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be-a-craftsperson/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/anne-stevenson-19324_artist_i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be_2691473.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.” — Anne Stevenson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anne Stevenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think a poet, like a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be-a-craftsperson/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-think-a-poet-like-a-painter-should-be-a-craftsperson/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```