--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think what gets a poem going is an…" description: "\"I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes nowhere; but other times - and this, I think, is a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg" --- # I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line… ![“I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes nowhere; but other times - and this, I think, is a sense you develop - I can tell that the line wants to continue. If it does, I can feel a sense of momentum - the poem finds a reason for continuing.” quote by Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg) > “I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes nowhere; but other times - and this, I think, is a sense you develop - I can tell that the line wants to continue. If it does, I can feel a sense of momentum - the poem finds a reason for continuing.” [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. A strong opening line creates momentum, urging the poem to develop further. **In simple terms:** A good first line drives the poem forward. Key Takeaway Cultivate compelling openings. Themes creativity poetry momentum Mood reflective inspired Type literary motivational When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative writing classes - personal journaling Key Concepts Narrative drive inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when a line naturally wants to continue? - What techniques help sustain poetic momentum? A Different Perspective A line can feel forced if not authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Continuing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuing/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gets Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets-poem-6101081/) [Going Initiating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-initiating-6101082/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Initiating Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiating-line-6101080/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Momentum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momentum/) [Momentum Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momentum-poem-6101079/) [Poem Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-going-904614/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“Offering I made a poem going to sleep last night, woke in sunlight, it was clean forgotten. If it was any good, gods of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/offering-i-made-a-poem-going-to-sleep-last-night-woke-in-sunlight-it/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [If you know what you are going to write when you're writing a poem, it's going to be average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/if-you-know-what-you-are-going-to-write-when-you-re-writing-a-poem-it/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [I've written some poems that are in the middle ground - who are in between very challenging and abundantly clear, but there's a tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/i-ve-written-some-poems-that-are-in-the-middle-ground-who-are-in/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [I'm never quite sure how the poem is going to resolve itself and that I'm always in some way surprised. I make a discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/i-m-never-quite-sure-how-the-poem-is-going-to-resolve-itself-and-that/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [“no poet can know what his poem is going to be like until he has written it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/no-poet-can-know-what-his-poem-is-going-to-be-like-until-he-has/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [I think the government lost control over fiscal policy in UPA-2. But it is possible to suggest that the momentum of the populism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjaya-baru/i-think-the-government-lost-control-over-fiscal-policy-in-upa-2-but/) [Sanjaya Baru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjaya-baru/) > [The momentum of production keeps you from giving up, so it's really the editing and writing phases where things can look bleakest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/the-momentum-of-production-keeps-you-from-giving-up-so-it-s-really/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) > [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [There's always a momentum in how users do stuff. Making small changes can have huge knock-on effects for whole companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-stamos/there-s-always-a-momentum-in-how-users-do-stuff-making-small-changes/) [Alex Stamos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-stamos/) > [You try to take advantage of taking control of the game when you know you may have guys on base and counts aren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/you-try-to-take-advantage-of-taking-control-of-the-game-when-you-know/) [Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/) > [I hope that basketball gains momentum and kids understand that you can actually make a living from it. Not just the N.B.A. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-hope-that-basketball-gains-momentum-and-kids-understand-that-you/) [Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/) > [“When you’re stuck your momentum stops, but if you use the goal as your guide you’re more likely to keep moving forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/when-you-re-stuck-your-momentum-stops-but-if-you-use-the-goal-as-your/) [Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) ## 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. You're out in the open field. You're actually saying things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-think-clarity-is-the-real-risk-in-poetry-because-you-are-exposed/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [...pleasure, of course, is a slippery word… Our pleasures ultimately belong to us, not to the pleasure's so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/pleasure-of-course-is-a-slippery-word-our-pleasures-ultimately-belong/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I stared up at the ebbing quarter moon and the stars scattered like a handful of salt across the faraway sky...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-stared-up-at-the-ebbing-quarter-moon-and-the-stars-scattered-like-a/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Death is what makes life fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/death-is-what-makes-life-fun/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [A trouble with poetry is the presence of presumptuousness in poetry, the sense you get in a poem that the poet takes for granted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/a-trouble-with-poetry-is-the-presence-of-presumptuousness-in-poetry/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [You come by your style by learning what to leave out. At first you tend to overwrite—embellishment instead of insight. 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. But I'd say the hardest part is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/usually-the-poems-are-written-in-one-sitting-there-s-always-a-groping/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I was influenced by the Beats because I actually just began to commit adolescence around 1955, when "Howl" and Rebel Without a Cause and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-was-influenced-by-the-beats-because-i-actually-just-began-to-commit/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Some difficulty is warranted and other difficulty I think is gratuitous. And I think I can tell the difference. There are certainly very difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/some-difficulty-is-warranted-and-other-difficulty-i-think-is/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) [Explore all 141 Billy Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) ## More Continuing quotes > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dream of continuing to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/i-dream-of-continuing-to-dream/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I describe family values as responsibility towards others, increase of tolerance, compromise, support, flexibility. And essentially the things I call the silent song of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-minuchin/i-describe-family-values-as-responsibility-towards-others-increase-of/) [Salvador Minuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-minuchin/) > [You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/you-can-measure-a-programmer-s-perspective-by-noting-his-attitude-on/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [What business needs now is exactly what women are able to provide, and at the very time when women are surging into the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-helgesen/what-business-needs-now-is-exactly-what-women-are-able-to-provide-and/) [Sally Helgesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-helgesen/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It's very easy for me to say what success is. I think success is connecting with an audience who understands you and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-say-what-success-is-i-think-success-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [A child-like man is not a man whose development has been arrested; on the contrary, he is a man who has given himself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/a-child-like-man-is-not-a-man-whose-development-has-been-arrested-on/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Put simply, the Bush administration policy in the Middle East is continuing to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-corsi/put-simply-the-bush-administration-policy-in-the-middle-east-is/) [Jerome Corsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-corsi/) > [Faith implies a continuing search, not necessarily a final answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/faith-implies-a-continuing-search-not-necessarily-a-final-answer/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It is evident, indeed, that such a doctrine, taken by itself in a literal manner, had no future. The world, in continuing to exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/it-is-evident-indeed-that-such-a-doctrine-taken-by-itself-in-a/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [For women who do not love us, as for the "disappeared", knowing that we no longer have any hope does not prevent us form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-women-who-do-not-love-us-as-for-the-disappeared-knowing-that-we/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) [Browse all 782 Continuing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes nowhere; but other times - and this, I think, is a sense you develop - I can tell that the line wants to continue. If it does, I can feel a sense of momentum - the poem finds a reason for continuing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-initiating-line-sometimes-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Continuing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-initiating-line-sometimes-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/billy-collins-3004_continuing_i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-ini_1603152.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes…” — Billy Collins", "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": "Billy Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think what gets a poem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-initiating-line-sometimes-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-think-what-gets-a-poem-going-is-an-initiating-line-sometimes-a/#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 } } ] } ```