--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the main work that I've done in my…" description: "\"That's the main work that I've done in my life - really wanting to get past that gender trap where there's a certain nudity in poetry. It's not about s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/emily-haines-13200_certain_that-s-the-main-work-that-i-ve-done-in-m_1355831.png" --- # That's the main work that I've done in my life - really… ![“That's the main work that I've done in my life - really wanting to get past that gender trap where there's a certain nudity in poetry. It's not about showing my soul, it's about observations.” quote by Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/emily-haines-13200_certain_that-s-the-main-work-that-i-ve-done-in-m_1355831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/emily-haines-13200_certain_that-s-the-main-work-that-i-ve-done-in-m_1355831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/emily-haines-13200_certain_that-s-the-main-work-that-i-ve-done-in-m_1355831.png) > “That's the main work that I've done in my life - really wanting to get past that gender trap where there's a certain nudity in poetry. It's not about showing my soul, it's about observations.” [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet aims to move beyond gendered expectations, focusing on observation rather than self‑exposure. **In simple terms:** Beyond gender traps, observe. Key Takeaway Prioritize observation over ego. Themes gender poetry authenticity Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary artistic When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary analysis - performance art Key Concepts feminist theory artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does gender shape your creative voice? - What observations deepen your work? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating audiences who expect personal confession. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nudity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nudity/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [“Showing your vagina or penis is easy, but showing your soul is not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/showing-your-vagina-or-penis-is-easy-but-showing-your-soul-is-not/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [People are always giving you credit for really wanting to say more than you said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/people-are-always-giving-you-credit-for-really-wanting-to-say-more/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I'd really been wanting to do a television series. I was looking for a comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-tripplehorn/i-d-really-been-wanting-to-do-a-television-series-i-was-looking-for-a/) [Jeanne Tripplehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-tripplehorn/) > [Michael Vick is a work in progress. I think he really is wanting to do the right thing. I think the Philadelphia Eagles have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/michael-vick-is-a-work-in-progress-i-think-he-really-is-wanting-to-do/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Everybody has had that experience of really wanting to do something and being afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-geiger/everybody-has-had-that-experience-of-really-wanting-to-do-something/) [Teddy Geiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-geiger/) > [I'm not really wanting to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/i-m-not-really-wanting-to-be-famous/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [Im always getting into something newthen most likely dropping it, but the intention is there. I just went through a period of really wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/im-always-getting-into-something-newthen-most-likely-dropping-it-but/) [Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/) > [There was a combination of not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, but also really not wanting to be stuck in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/there-was-a-combination-of-not-wanting-to-look-a-gift-horse-in-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [The truth is, I hadn't grown up really wanting to be a writer. The whole thing was a weird aberration in some ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-truth-is-i-hadn-t-grown-up-really-wanting-to-be-a-writer-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Do you really know the living Jesus - not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/do-you-really-know-the-living-jesus-not-from-books-but-from-being/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“You said something very true the other day: that for us, nudity begins with the face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/you-said-something-very-true-the-other-day-that-for-us-nudity-begins/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“The hijab-related deaths and death sentences in Iran show that breaking the attire laws is more dangerous adventure than breaking the nudity laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-n-prasher/the-hijab-related-deaths-and-death-sentences-in-iran-show-that/) [R. N. Prasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-n-prasher/) > [Girls spend hours deciding what to wear, and all guys do is try to picture us naked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-spend-hours-deciding-what-to-wear-and-all-guys-do-is-try-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) ## More by Emily Haines > [Lots of people take the option of not activating their own life, of really letting it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/lots-of-people-take-the-option-of-not-activating-their-own-life-of/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [The architecture of the song, if it's built properly, can withstand all kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/the-architecture-of-the-song-if-it-s-built-properly-can-withstand-all/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [Oftentimes the most produced and synth-tastic songs are the ones that end up sounding the best acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/oftentimes-the-most-produced-and-synth-tastic-songs-are-the-ones-that/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I think every musician is different, every artist is different, and in a perfect world people would be able to pursue their own path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-think-every-musician-is-different-every-artist-is-different-and-in/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I think a sexual energy is a positive energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-think-a-sexual-energy-is-a-positive-energy/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [Being alive and understanding that and making the decision to actually live take a lot of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/being-alive-and-understanding-that-and-making-the-decision-to/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [In Canada there's an extensive grant system that really allows people to make their work without having to suffer that much, and I'm staring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-canada-there-s-an-extensive-grant-system-that-really-allows-people/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [The writing process is very much like being in a dark tunnel, and you don't really know what you will end up with until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/the-writing-process-is-very-much-like-being-in-a-dark-tunnel-and-you/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [Of course there are influences, of course there are things that are inspiring, but it's weird to think that I'm trying to keep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/of-course-there-are-influences-of-course-there-are-things-that-are/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I like the idea that you would participate in mainstream culture, especially for young girls and young kids who are looking for an alternative.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-like-the-idea-that-you-would-participate-in-mainstream-culture/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [But its crazy - like ten percent a year increase of children taking fucking anti-depressants. Pre-schoolers are like, the most prescribed. That makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/but-its-crazy-like-ten-percent-a-year-increase-of-children-taking/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [Believe in the power of songs,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/believe-in-the-power-of-songs/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I love to read about music and about art, but I don't try and take things about mythology or guidelines as to how I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-love-to-read-about-music-and-about-art-but-i-don-t-try-and-take/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I think that every band is different, and in fact that's one of the biggest problems with the old-school music industry is that... one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-think-that-every-band-is-different-and-in-fact-that-s-one-of-the/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) [Explore all 51 Emily Haines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the main work that I've done in my life - really wanting to get past that gender trap where there's a certain nudity in poetry. 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