When students are first at the Kerouac School we harp on…
“When students are first at the Kerouac School we harp on Gertrude Stein's very basic poetic insistence that words are things . Not to invalidate your experience or all the great feelings you have, I tell them. Although poetry may be good for you, it's not therapy. You're making something with words which are visceral, muscular, active, not just markers of how you feel. And we have classes studying William Blake, Ezra Pound, Charles Olson, Robert Duncan, Stein.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Poetry Workshop at Kerouac School, 2020
Waldman emphasizes that poetry is an active, bodily practice rather than a therapeutic tool, urging students to view words as dynamic material that shapes experience.
In simple terms: Poetry is a creative, physical act, not just emotional expression.
Key Takeaway
Treat writing as a physical, expressive process.
Themes
poetry
creativity
education
embodiment
Mood
inspired
reflective
thoughtful
Type
educational
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literature classes
- creative retreats
Key Concepts
materiality of language
expressive practice
learning through doing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing words as material change your writing?
- Can poetry serve both artistic and therapeutic purposes?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on the materiality of words can overlook the therapeutic benefits some find in poetry.