--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We tell each other stories to help each…" description: "\"We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s why I read poetry. I read poetry to stay alive. That’s why I went to poetry in the first pla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png" --- # We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s… ![“We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s why I read poetry. I read poetry to stay alive. That’s why I went to poetry in the first place, that’s why I stay with it, that’s why I’ll never leave it.” quote by Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png) > “We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s why I read poetry. I read poetry to stay alive. That’s why I went to poetry in the first place, that’s why I stay with it, that’s why I’ll never leave it.” [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry sustains us, offering connection and vitality through shared stories and language. **In simple terms:** Poetry helps us live by sharing stories. Key Takeaway Read and share poetry to stay alive. Themes creativity connection survival Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - community building Key Concepts Narrative therapy existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - How does poetry shape your sense of purpose? - In what ways does sharing stories strengthen relationships? A Different Perspective Poetry may not solve practical problems directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-each-other/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-read-585689/) [Poetry Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-stay-3010583/) [Read Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-poetry/) [Stay Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-alive/) [Staying alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-alive/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tell Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-stories/) [Went Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-poetry-3010584/) ## Related quotes > [When I read poetry, I read it aloud. It's so much better that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-i-read-poetry-i-read-it-aloud-it-s-so-much-better-that-way/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [In high school I was very much involved in poetry. You cannot read a poem quickly. There's too much going on there. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/in-high-school-i-was-very-much-involved-in-poetry-you-cannot-read-a/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Because, in fact, women, feminists, do read my poetry, and they read it often with the power of their political interpretation. I don't care;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wakoski/because-in-fact-women-feminists-do-read-my-poetry-and-they-read-it/) [Diane Wakoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-wakoski/) > [Whereas if you were writing an op-ed piece or an essay, somebody would be asking, "What's your point?" With poetry you can stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-rankine/whereas-if-you-were-writing-an-op-ed-piece-or-an-essay-somebody-would/) [Claudia Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-rankine/) > [“Poetry is anything you read out loud alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gordon/poetry-is-anything-you-read-out-loud-alone/) [David Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gordon/) > [I haven't been reading anything on tour so far, I haven't had a minute. Any moment that I've had recently on the tour has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-azar/i-haven-t-been-reading-anything-on-tour-so-far-i-haven-t-had-a-minute/) [Carla Azar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-azar/) > [Truly fine poetry must be read aloud. A good poem does not allow itself to be read in a low voice or silently. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/truly-fine-poetry-must-be-read-aloud-a-good-poem-does-not-allow/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I have piles of poetry books in the bathroom, on the stairs, everywhere. The only way to write poetry is to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/i-have-piles-of-poetry-books-in-the-bathroom-on-the-stairs-everywhere/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [“Read for yourselves, read for the sake of your inspiration, for the sweet turmoil in your lovely head. But also read against yourselves, read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/read-for-yourselves-read-for-the-sake-of-your-inspiration-for-the-2/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [One of my greatest joys is poetry. I read it almost every day, and I've even taken a stab at writing some of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/one-of-my-greatest-joys-is-poetry-i-read-it-almost-every-day-and-i-ve/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [“OMG! I DESIGNED THIS NEW SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM! IT'S CALLED "POETRY" - YOU HAVE TO READ AMY KING'S POEMS TO GET AN INVITE ~”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-king/omg-i-designed-this-new-social-media-platform-it-s-called-poetry-you/) [Amy King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-king/) > [“If you had to give one piece of advice to people in their twenties, what would it be? To go to a bookstore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/if-you-had-to-give-one-piece-of-advice-to-people-in-their-twenties/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [I read a lot of poetry. I read some history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-busch/i-read-a-lot-of-poetry-i-read-some-history/) [Frederick Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-busch/) > [“For it is a peculiarity of persons who lead rich, emotional lives, and who (as the saying is) live intensely and with a wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/for-it-is-a-peculiarity-of-persons-who-lead-rich-emotional-lives-and/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [Not every gay person recites poetry or has read Keats. You can get readers through anything if the characters are complicated. You can't dismiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/not-every-gay-person-recites-poetry-or-has-read-keats-you-can-get/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) ## More by Marie Howe > [“Even If I Don’t See it Again Even if I don’t see it again.–nor ever feel it I know it is–and that if once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-nor-ever/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [I am living. I remember you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-am-living-i-remember-you/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“I remember a man, a very lonely man, coming up to me at the end of a reading and looking into my face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-remember-a-man-a-very-lonely-man-coming-up-to-me-at-the-end-of-a/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Poetry is telling something to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/poetry-is-telling-something-to-someone/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Poetry holds the knowledge that we are alive and that we know we're going to die,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/poetry-holds-the-knowledge-that-we-are-alive-and-that-we-know-we-re/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“I had no idea that the gate I would step through to finally enter this world would be the space my brother’s body made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-had-no-idea-that-the-gate-i-would-step-through-to-finally-enter/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“ WHAT THE LIVING DO Johnny, the kitchen sink has been clogged for days, some utensil probably fell down there. And the Drano won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/what-the-living-do-johnny-the-kitchen-sink-has-been-clogged-for-days/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [But there are moments, walking, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the window glass, say, the window of the corner video store,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/but-there-are-moments-walking-when-i-catch-a-glimpse-of-myself-in-the/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Each of us suffers with envy/for the forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/each-of-us-suffers-with-envy-for-the-forgiven/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Without devotion any life becomes a stranger's story...told for the body to forget what it once loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/without-devotion-any-life-becomes-a-stranger-s-story-told-for-the/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [A traitor commits his crime but once. The rest/is retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/a-traitor-commits-his-crime-but-once-the-rest-is-retribution/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Every poem holds the unspeakable inside it. The unsayable... The thing that you can't really say because it's too complicated. It's too complex for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/every-poem-holds-the-unspeakable-inside-it-the-unsayable-the-thing/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“Anything I’ve ever tried to keep by force I’ve lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/anything-i-ve-ever-tried-to-keep-by-force-i-ve-lost/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Memory is a poet, not an historian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/memory-is-a-poet-not-an-historian/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [Bedeviled, / human, your plight, in waking, is to choose from the words / that even now sleep on your tongue, and to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/bedeviled-human-your-plight-in-waking-is-to-choose-from-the-words/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) [Explore all 21 Marie Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s why I read poetry. I read poetry to stay alive. That’s why I went to poetry in the first place, that’s why I stay with it, that’s why I’ll never leave it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marie Howe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each-other-live-that-s-why-i-read/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each-other-live-that-s-why-i-read/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/579/marie-howe-27130_alive_we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each_1929375.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We tell each other stories to help each other live. That’s why I read poetry. I read poetry to stay alive…” — Marie Howe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marie Howe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We tell each other stories to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each-other-live-that-s-why-i-read/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/we-tell-each-other-stories-to-help-each-other-live-that-s-why-i-read/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```