--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're shadowed by your own dream…" description: "\"You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get older, of trying to create something that will last in poetry. And so, you're working on its b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/edward-hirsch-1614_create_you-re-shadowed-by-your-own-dream-especi_189383.png" --- # You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get… ![“You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get older, of trying to create something that will last in poetry. And so, you're working on its behalf.” quote by Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/edward-hirsch-1614_create_you-re-shadowed-by-your-own-dream-especi_189383.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/edward-hirsch-1614_create_you-re-shadowed-by-your-own-dream-especi_189383.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/edward-hirsch-1614_create_you-re-shadowed-by-your-own-dream-especi_189383.png) > “You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get older, of trying to create something that will last in poetry. And so, you're working on its behalf.” [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often chase lasting artistic legacy, feeling compelled to produce work that endures beyond ourselves, especially as age highlights mortality. **In simple terms:** Chasing lasting art can feel like a burden. Key Takeaway Embrace creation without obsessing over permanence. Themes art legacy aging creativity Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing a memoir - crafting a long‑term project - reflecting on career - teaching creative writing Key Concepts existentialism mortality self‑expectation Questions to Reflect On - What would you create if permanence didn’t matter? - How does aging reshape your artistic goals? A Different Perspective The pressure to create lasting work can stifle spontaneity and joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [There's a great deal of poetry in working out how things work, cutting bits of metal, trying to mend stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-may/there-s-a-great-deal-of-poetry-in-working-out-how-things-work-cutting/) [James May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-may/) > [Poetry was my dirty little secret when I was a fiction writer at Iowa, and then fiction became my dirty little secret when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/poetry-was-my-dirty-little-secret-when-i-was-a-fiction-writer-at-iowa/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It's definitely hard being taken from your dream, especially when you're trying to accomplish something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/it-s-definitely-hard-being-taken-from-your-dream-especially-when-you/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [“You can give up your present dream provided that you have created a new dream and especially a better one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-give-up-your-present-dream-provided-that-you-have-created-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Life has taught me to be very cautious of a man with a dream, especially a man who has teetered on the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/life-has-taught-me-to-be-very-cautious-of-a-man-with-a-dream/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [My serve was there, everything was just clicking. Those are the days you dream about, especially in a final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/my-serve-was-there-everything-was-just-clicking-those-are-the-days/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [“People create poetry and mustard gas. We invent gods and monsters and gods that might as well be monsters. We act with extraordinary grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-charles/people-create-poetry-and-mustard-gas-we-invent-gods-and-monsters-and/) [K.J. Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-charles/) > [“We are all born with genius. It's like our fairy godmother. But what happens in life is that we stop listening to our inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-glaser/we-are-all-born-with-genius-it-s-like-our-fairy-godmother-but-what/) [Milton Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-glaser/) > [You will find meaning in life only if you create it.It is a poetry to be composed. It is a song to be sung.It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-find-meaning-in-life-only-if-you-create-it-it-is-a-poetry-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Each of us has his own alphabet with which to create poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/each-of-us-has-his-own-alphabet-with-which-to-create-poetry/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [I don't create poetry, I create myself, for me my poems are a way to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-s-dergran/i-don-t-create-poetry-i-create-myself-for-me-my-poems-are-a-way-to-me/) [Edith Södergran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-s-dergran/) > [“To dance is to create poetry with your feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/to-dance-is-to-create-poetry-with-your-feet/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [When you get a little bit older, you're always trying to do something different from your siblings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/when-you-get-a-little-bit-older-you-re-always-trying-to-do-something/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [Before you know it, I'm not going to be able to tie these boots up and do what I do in the ring for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-reigns/before-you-know-it-i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-tie-these-boots-up-and/) [Roman Reigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-reigns/) ## More by Edward Hirsch > [And my experience is the best titles, for me, emerge in the process of writing. They don't usually come at the very beginning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/and-my-experience-is-the-best-titles-for-me-emerge-in-the-process-of/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“I did not know the work of mourning Is like carrying a bag of cement Up a mountain at night The mountaintop is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-did-not-know-the-work-of-mourning-is-like-carrying-a-bag-of-cement/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“Fall" Fall, falling, fallen. That’s the way the season Changes its tense in the long-haired maples That dot the road; the veiny hand-shaped leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/fall-fall-falling-fallen-that-s-the-way-the-season-changes-its-tense/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I find great consolation in having a lot of poetry books around. I believe that writing poetry and reading it are deeply intertwined. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-find-great-consolation-in-having-a-lot-of-poetry-books-around-i/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I had feelings that I didn't know what to do with, and I felt better when I started writing them. I thought of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-had-feelings-that-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-and-i-felt-better/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I think in terms of educating a group of readers, MFA programs are very good. I just think the model of MFA programs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-think-in-terms-of-educating-a-group-of-readers-mfa-programs-are/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“Jonson wrote a poem and called his son His best piece of poetrie A lovely line a little loathsome I loved that poem once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/jonson-wrote-a-poem-and-called-his-son-his-best-piece-of-poetrie-a/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [It does demand a certain space in order to read it and I think that space is somewhat threatened by the lack of attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/it-does-demand-a-certain-space-in-order-to-read-it-and-i-think-that/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [...I put down these memorandums of my affections in honor of tenderness, in honor of all of those who have been conscripted into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-put-down-these-memorandums-of-my-affections-in-honor-of-tenderness/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Poetry is a vocation. It is not a career but a calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/poetry-is-a-vocation-it-is-not-a-career-but-a-calling/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [The attention deficit disorder of the culture is very distressing in America now and I think it puts a lot of things at risk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/the-attention-deficit-disorder-of-the-culture-is-very-distressing-in/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Now, as I've gotten older I've been able to write more quickly. Sometimes I get in the space of something and I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/now-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-been-able-to-write-more-quickly/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Poetry takes courage because you have to face things and you try to articulate how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/poetry-takes-courage-because-you-have-to-face-things-and-you-try-to/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [As soon as something happens to us in America, everyone begins talking about healing. But before you heal, you have to mourn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/as-soon-as-something-happens-to-us-in-america-everyone-begins-talking/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) [Explore all 222 Edward Hirsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## More Create quotes > [As far as Vern and I go, we have had situations where people have tried to take photographs of me and cut Vernon out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/as-far-as-vern-and-i-go-we-have-had-situations-where-people-have/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“If I can create something unique in the world, so can you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scifurz/if-i-can-create-something-unique-in-the-world-so-can-you/) SciFurz > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [For a long time at Blackburn and at Fulham last season, I was playing on the right wing. I've never seen myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cairney/for-a-long-time-at-blackburn-and-at-fulham-last-season-i-was-playing/) [Tom Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cairney/) > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) Browse all 5,654 Create quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get older, of trying to create something that will last in poetry. 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