Wendy Cope

The reason modern poetry is difficult is so that the poet's wife cannot understand it.

— Wendy Cope

I like buying clothes, especially as I get a tax-deductible allowance.

— Wendy Cope

On Waterloo Bridge where we said our goodbyes, the weather conditions bring tears to my eyes. I wipe them away with a…

— Wendy Cope

I've never been more famous than I was, suddenly, in 1986.

— Wendy Cope

In my case, the long gaps between my books have got quite a lot to do with lack of confidence. A lot…

— Wendy Cope

“A Green Song (to sing at the bottle-bank) One green bottle, Drop it in the bank. Ten green bottles, What a lot…

— Wendy Cope

I used to think all poets were Byronic Mad, bad and dangerous to know. And then I met a few. See Lamb 486:25.

— Wendy Cope

I always tell students that writing a poem and publishing it are two quite separate things, and you should write what you…

— Wendy Cope

I like a quiet life.

— Wendy Cope

Bloody Christmas, here again, let us raise a loving cup, peace on earth, goodwill to men, and make them do the washing…

— Wendy Cope

Bloody men are like bloody buses - you wait for about a year and as soon as one approaches your stop two…

— Wendy Cope

“Everybody in this room is bored. The poems drag, the voice and gestures irk. He can't be interrupted or ignored. Poor fools,…

— Wendy Cope

“Making Cocoa For Kingsley Amis It was a dream I had last week And some kind of record seemed vital. I knew…

— Wendy Cope

There is some humour in 'Family Values.' I don't want everyone to think it's not going to make them laugh. But there…

— Wendy Cope

I've said what I'm prepared to say in my poems, and then journalists think that you're going to tell them a whole…

— Wendy Cope

When a poem doesn't work, the first question to ask yourself is, 'Am I telling the truth?'

— Wendy Cope

My heart has made its mind up And I’m afraid it’s you. Whatever you’ve got lined up, My heart has made its…

— Wendy Cope

“Another Christmas Poem Blood Christmas, here again. Let us raise a loving cup: Peace on earth, goodwill to men, And make them…

— Wendy Cope

“New Season No coats today. Buds bulge on chestnut trees, And on the doorstep of a big, old house A young man…

— Wendy Cope

The interesting thing is that you don't often meet a poet who doesn't have a sense of humour, and some of them…

— Wendy Cope

I was single for a long time and felt very much alone in the world, and talk of family values upset me…

— Wendy Cope

“Nine-Line Triolet Here's a fine mess we got ourselves into, My angel, my darling, true love of my heart Etcetera. Must stop…

— Wendy Cope

Write to amuse? What an appalling suggestion! I write to make people anxious and miserable and to worsen their indigestion.

— Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange The size of it made us all laugh. I peeled it and shared it with…

— Wendy Cope

“Differences of Opinion 1 HE TELLS HER He tells her that the earth is flat -- He knows the facts, and that…

— Wendy Cope