Believe Quote by Jonathan W. Galassi
“I'm old-fashioned enough to really still believe that the poem is an object to be memorized, venerated... I still believe in that kind of poem. A lot of poets today don't, they want to get away from the poem as object. They want something looser. Unfortunately, a lot of it is boring to me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Poetry Today Podcast, 2019
The speaker values poems as concrete objects worthy of memorization and reverence, contrasting with modern poets who favor fluid, less structured forms.
In simple terms: Poems should be memorized and honored, not just read casually.
Key Takeaway
Treat poems as objects to study and cherish.
Themes
tradition
poetry
memory
form
modernism
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literature classes
- personal study
- creative writing workshops
- public readings
Key Concepts
aesthetic object
cultural reverence
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does memorizing a poem change your experience of it?
- What benefits arise from treating poetry as an object?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that strict memorization can stifle personal interpretation.
