Awake Quote by Osip Mandelstam

I do believe that a poem needs to remind the reader of his or her own humanity, of what they are, of what they're…

— Charles Simic

Poetry is a sleep-maker for that which sits up late in us listening for the footfall of the future on to-day's doorstep.

— Laura Riding

Let the poets cry themselves to sleep, and all their tearful words will turn back into steam.

— Conor Oberst

I love that people want to know about poetry. It's one of the ways of keeping alive.

— Joan Larkin

Poetry is composing for the breath.

— Peter Davison

...poetry is paying attention to life when all the world seems asleep to its beauties and truths...

— Anonymous

Insofar as poetry has a social function it is to awaken sleepers by other means than shock.

— Denise Levertov

The purpose of poetry is to remind us how difficult it is to remain just one person, for our house is open, there are…

— Czeslaw Milosz

“A poem is a revelation, and it is by the brink of running water that poetry is revealed to the mind.”

— James Stephens

Nothing like poetry when you lie awake at night. It keeps the old brain limber. It washes away the mud and sand that keeps…

— Joyce Cary

“Poetry is the lighthouse of life Guiding the lost from a stormy sea. Without it's presence darkness prevails Keeping us from all we can…

— Tom Zart

The purpose of poetry is to remind us / how difficult it is to remain just one person...

— Czeslaw Milosz