Avoided Quote by Clive James
“Pound had argued - and Eliot had helped him prove - that a poem could be sustained by memorable moments. Olson proved that it could be sustained by unmemorable ones, provided that the texture of the accumulated jottings avoided the sound of failed poetry.”
About This Quote
Poetry can be anchored either by striking moments or by the cumulative texture of ordinary details, avoiding failed poetic attempts.
In simple terms: Poetry thrives on memorable or textured detail.
Key Takeaway
Both vivid moments and subtle texture sustain poetry.
Themes
poetry
memory
texture
Mood
analytical
inspired
Type
literary criticism
When to use this quote
- writing a lyric
- crafting a spoken word piece
- editing a poem
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
form
Practical Applications
- mix vivid images with subtle, sustained detail
Questions to Reflect On
- What balance works best for you?
- How does texture influence emotional impact?
A Different Perspective
Relying too much on texture may render a poem bland.
![“I wasn’t reading poetry because my aim was to work my way through English Literature in Prose A–Z. But this was different. I read [in, Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot]: This is one moment, / But know that another / Shall pierce you with a sudden painful joy. I started to cry. (…)The…” quote by Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/jeanette-winterson-166_books_i-wasn-t-reading-poetry-because-my-aim-w_1191707.jpg)
