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Bigs Quote by Robert Bringhurst

“I think of something quite different from a snapshot. I know of a lot of poems, some very fine ones, that are like snapshots, but I'm more interested in poetry that is like an endless film, long stories, things that weave together many different strands, like a big piece of cloth, not like a…” quote by Robert Bringhurst
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“I think of something quite different from a snapshot. I know of a lot of poems, some very fine ones, that are like snapshots, but I'm more interested in poetry that is like an endless film, long stories, things that weave together many different strands, like a big piece of cloth, not like a photograph.”

Robert Bringhurst

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Art of Poetry, Robert Bringhurst, 1992

Poetry should unfold like a continuous film, weaving many threads into a rich tapestry rather than a single snapshot.

In simple terms: Poetry is a flowing, interconnected narrative.

Key Takeaway

Seek poems that develop over time.

Themes

creativity structure storytelling

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Reading long poems
  • writing workshops
  • literary analysis
  • teaching poetry

Key Concepts

Narrative continuity interconnectedness

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you value depth over immediacy?
  • How does a poem’s structure affect its impact?
A Different Perspective

Some readers prefer concise, image‑driven poems.

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