--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my work has to do with a sense…" description: "\"I think my work has to do with a sense that we are attempting, all the time, to create a logical, rational path through the day. To the left and right ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/billy-collins-3004_attempting_i-think-my-work-has-to-do-with-a-sense-t_1822174.png" --- # I think my work has to do with a sense that we are… ![“I think my work has to do with a sense that we are attempting, all the time, to create a logical, rational path through the day. To the left and right there are an amazing set of distractions that we usually can't afford to follow. But the poet is willing to stop anywhere.” quote by Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/billy-collins-3004_attempting_i-think-my-work-has-to-do-with-a-sense-t_1822174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/billy-collins-3004_attempting_i-think-my-work-has-to-do-with-a-sense-t_1822174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/billy-collins-3004_attempting_i-think-my-work-has-to-do-with-a-sense-t_1822174.png) > “I think my work has to do with a sense that we are attempting, all the time, to create a logical, rational path through the day. To the left and right there are an amazing set of distractions that we usually can't afford to follow. But the poet is willing to stop anywhere.” [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet navigates daily distractions, choosing where to focus attention amid chaos. **In simple terms:** Poets choose focus amid distractions. Key Takeaway Practice selective attention in daily life. Themes focus distraction creativity mindfulness Mood contemplative creative Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing - working - studying - meditation Key Concepts attention management creative process Questions to Reflect On - Which distractions hinder your work? - How can you create intentional pauses? A Different Perspective Constant distractions may erode depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Distractions Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distractions-usually-2202958/) [Follow Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-poet-2202956/) [Left and right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-and-right/) [Logical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-willing-2202957/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Sense Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-attempting-2202959/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [Follow, poet, follow right To the bottom of the night, With your unconstraining voice Still persuade us to rejoice; With the farming of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/follow-poet-follow-right-to-the-bottom-of-the-night-with-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're going to move left and right at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-re-going-to-move-left-and-right-at-the-same-time/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“Pick up a pinecone and count the spiral rows of scales. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [We losing people left and right Cherish Life and the people in your Life...don't hold Grudges because u might not be able to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-rivera/we-losing-people-left-and-right-cherish-life-and-the-people-in-your/) [Maria Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-rivera/) > [The human brain has left and right brain symmetry with its own nature and can process information which initially appears to have no pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-human-brain-has-left-and-right-brain-symmetry-with-its-own-nature/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [I don't like a girl on social media, when you have an open inbox, answering questions from dudes left and right, every day. What's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/i-don-t-like-a-girl-on-social-media-when-you-have-an-open-inbox/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“There are so many priests who enter triumphantly and walk up toward the altar, greeting people left and right, so as to appear sympathetic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sarah/there-are-so-many-priests-who-enter-triumphantly-and-walk-up-toward/) [Robert Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sarah/) > [When I see birches bend to left and right... I like to think some boy's been swinging them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/when-i-see-birches-bend-to-left-and-right-i-like-to-think-some-boy-s/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-learn-such-useful-skills-very/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## More by Billy Collins > [“The whole idea of it makes me feel Like I’m coming down with something, Something worse than any stomach ache Or the headaches I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/the-whole-idea-of-it-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-coming-down-with/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I think clarity is the real risk in poetry because you are exposed. 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You either continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/you-come-by-your-style-by-learning-what-to-leave-out-at-first-you/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [But my heart is always propped up in a field on its tripod, ready for the next arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/but-my-heart-is-always-propped-up-in-a-field-on-its-tripod-ready-for/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I can hear the library humming in the night, a choir of authors murmuring inside their books along the unlit, alphabetical shelves, Giovanni Pontano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-can-hear-the-library-humming-in-the-night-a-choir-of-authors/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Every Day Is for the Thief is a vivid, episodic evocation of the truism that you can't go home again; but that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/every-day-is-for-the-thief-is-a-vivid-episodic-evocation-of-the/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Humor, for me, is really a gate of departure. Its a way of enticing a reader into a poem so that less funny things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/humor-for-me-is-really-a-gate-of-departure-its-a-way-of-enticing-a/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [You know how sometimes you just have a memory of looking up and seeing a face looking over your crib and then remember nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/you-know-how-sometimes-you-just-have-a-memory-of-looking-up-and/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Usually the poems are written in one sitting. There's always a groping towards some satisfying ending. 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