--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What poetry can, must, and will always do…" description: "\"What poetry can, must, and will always do for us: it complicates us, it doesn’t ‘soothe.’\" — Jorie Graham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/jorie-graham-25513_funny_what-poetry-can-must-and-will-always-do_839195.png" --- # What poetry can, must, and will always do for us: it… ![“What poetry can, must, and will always do for us: it complicates us, it doesn’t ‘soothe.’” quote by Jorie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/jorie-graham-25513_funny_what-poetry-can-must-and-will-always-do_839195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/jorie-graham-25513_funny_what-poetry-can-must-and-will-always-do_839195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/jorie-graham-25513_funny_what-poetry-can-must-and-will-always-do_839195.png) > “What poetry can, must, and will always do for us: it complicates us, it doesn’t ‘soothe.’” [Jorie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorie-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry inevitably challenges and unsettles, rather than simply comforting. **In simple terms:** Poetry complicates, it doesn’t soothe. Key Takeaway Embrace poetry’s capacity to provoke thought. Themes art poetry discomfort growth Mood thoughtful provocative Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - literature classes - creative writing workshops - personal reflection Key Concepts aesthetic theory psychology cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What does poetry reveal about your inner conflicts? - How does discomfort lead to insight? A Different Perspective Some readers seek only comfort, missing poetry’s deeper purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complicates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicates-626963/) [Complicates Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicates-doesn-626964/) [Doesn Soothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-soothe-626962/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Complicates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-complicates-626961/) [Soothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothe/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a mother, I'm a journalist, I'm an American; I'm all of those things, and it really complicates your job when you have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-zahn/i-m-a-mother-i-m-a-journalist-i-m-an-american-i-m-all-of-those-things/) [Paula Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-zahn/) > [LOVE MAKES EVERYTHING SIMPLE WHEN IT STARTS BUT BY THE END IT COMPLICATES EVERYTHING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansrajvir/love-makes-everything-simple-when-it-starts-but-by-the-end-it/) [HANSRAJVIR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansrajvir/) > [Marriage simplifies life and complicates the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/marriage-simplifies-life-and-complicates-the-day/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Intelligence complicates. 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