Afghanistan Quote by Eliza Griswold

Poetry is a popular genre in Afghanistan. If you turned on the radio, there would be a poetry program that would be as popular…

— Eliza Griswold

By definition, poetry works with qualities and dynamics that mainstream society is reluctant to face head-on. It's an interesting phenomenon that by necessity, poetry…

— David Whyte

Poetry can explain individuals to ourselves, and change our attitudes, and help us see the complexity of the world, but the kind of poetry…

— Stephen Burt

For an American, there's no automatic place where people love the art of poetry. There's not a social class that considers poetry its property…

— Robert Pinsky

In most of the world, poetry has such a different reputation than it does in Western culture.

— Eliza Griswold

I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not…

— Mark Strand

Poetry isn't as relevant in the Western world as it is in Afghanistan. And not many people make time for something that doesn't feel…

— Eliza Griswold

Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what…

— Allen Ginsberg

Poetry asks people to have values, form opinions, care about some other part of experience besides making money and being successful on the job.

— Toi Derricotte

People want poetry. They need poetry. They get it. They don't want fancy work.

— Mary Oliver

And yet, in a culture like ours, which is given to material comforts, and addicted to forms of entertainment that offer immediate gratification, it…

— Mark Strand

Poetry is often very critical of the culture from which it emerges. Quite often literary critics of a nationalist bent talk up the national…

— Edna Longley