Always Quote by David Ferry
“I've always been - as a teacher, as graduate student, as a student, and I think, really, as a child - I've been interested in poems, but not so much for what the take home pay is, what you might sum up from them in moral or intellectual terms or whatever, but what's in the certain lines and how lines relates to other lines.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Value of Poetry,” The Atlantic, 2008
Poetry is valued for its internal resonance and interconnections, not for monetary or didactic purposes.
In simple terms: Poetry matters for its inner connections.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning in how lines relate.
Themes
art
poetry
reflection
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- reading poems
- teaching literature
- writing verse
Key Concepts
Intertextuality
aesthetic value
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal experiences do you bring to a poem?
- How do you balance emotional impact with intellectual analysis?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on internal links may overlook cultural context.
