--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think poetry is something that…" description: "\"I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We can encourage young writers, but what you can't teach them is the very essence of poetry.\" — R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/robert-morgan-9709_essence_i-don-t-think-poetry-is-something-that-c_2815268.jpg" --- # I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We… ![“I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We can encourage young writers, but what you can't teach them is the very essence of poetry.” quote by Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/robert-morgan-9709_essence_i-don-t-think-poetry-is-something-that-c_2815268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/robert-morgan-9709_essence_i-don-t-think-poetry-is-something-that-c_2815268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/robert-morgan-9709_essence_i-don-t-think-poetry-is-something-that-c_2815268.jpg) > “I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We can encourage young writers, but what you can't teach them is the very essence of poetry.” [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry's essence cannot be taught; encouragement is possible, but true poetic insight comes from personal experience. **In simple terms:** Poetry's core can't be taught, only encouraged. Key Takeaway Foster personal experience for poetic insight. Themes creativity education art Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational artistic When to use this quote - creative writing classes - literary mentorship - self-exploration Key Concepts pedagogy aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - How can mentors nurture innate poetic voice? - What experiences spark poetic insight? A Different Perspective Teaching may overlook innate talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-is/) [Poetry Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-taught-3548275/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Think Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-poetry/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writers Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-teach-836085/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-writers/) ## Related quotes > [I also liked it when professors assigned us stories that they love. In general, I liked workshops more when they were more than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-also-liked-it-when-professors-assigned-us-stories-that-they-love-in/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I cannot understand why poetry is not taught at schools as a way of seeing, a quick, untiring path to essentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-cannot-understand-why-poetry-is-not-taught-at-schools-as-a-way-of/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Poetry helps me understand who I am. It helps me understand the world around me. But above all, what poetry has taught me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusef-komunyakaa/poetry-helps-me-understand-who-i-am-it-helps-me-understand-the-world/) [Yusef Komunyakaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusef-komunyakaa/) > [“ Poetry is never to be taught, for emotions are never bought ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-an-elo/poetry-is-never-to-be-taught-for-emotions-are-never-bought/) [Bela Anĝelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-an-elo/) > [And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-the-second-question-can-poetry-be-taught-i-didn-t-think-so/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I think poetry is the best thing I do. It's certainly the purest. I seem to switch gears without too much trouble. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/i-think-poetry-is-the-best-thing-i-do-it-s-certainly-the-purest-i/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I think that poetry is an act of celebration, that anytime you're writing a poem, it means that you're celebrating something, even if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/i-think-that-poetry-is-an-act-of-celebration-that-anytime-you-re/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [ I do not think \[poetry\] is more, or less, necessary than food, shelter, health, education, decent working conditions. It is as necessary. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-do-not-think-poetry-is-more-or-less-necessary-than-food-shelter/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think poetry is best read to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lee-jones/i-think-poetry-is-best-read-to-oneself/) [Rickie Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lee-jones/) > [I think all poetry is accessible in a certain sense if you spend enough time with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/i-think-all-poetry-is-accessible-in-a-certain-sense-if-you-spend/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [Poetry is the most direct and simple means of expressing oneself in words: the most primitive nations have poetry, but only quitewell developed civilizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/poetry-is-the-most-direct-and-simple-means-of-expressing-oneself-in/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Poetry can save the world. I'm a real believer in its power of healing and transforming. I wish more people read it ... Poetry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-muske-dukes/poetry-can-save-the-world-i-m-a-real-believer-in-its-power-of-healing/) [Carol Muske-Dukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-muske-dukes/) > [I suppose there's something to be said for the sheer reinforcement of our beliefs, but really I think poetry is more useful as disenchantment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/i-suppose-there-s-something-to-be-said-for-the-sheer-reinforcement-of/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Poetry is like walking along a little, tiny, narrow ridge up on a precipice. You never know the next step, whether there's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-jacobsen/poetry-is-like-walking-along-a-little-tiny-narrow-ridge-up-on-a/) [Josephine Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-jacobsen/) > [For me, reading books and writing them are tied together. The words of other writers teach me and refresh me and inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-byars/for-me-reading-books-and-writing-them-are-tied-together-the-words-of/) [Betsy Byars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-byars/) ## More by Robert Morgan > [I think that it's more likely that in my 60s and 70s I will be writing poetry rather than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/i-think-that-it-s-more-likely-that-in-my-60s-and-70s-i-will-be/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [With prose you can incorporate more details, develop scenes, sustain the tension in a special way. Prose has its own speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/with-prose-you-can-incorporate-more-details-develop-scenes-sustain/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [The great watershed of modern poetry is French, more than English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-great-watershed-of-modern-poetry-is-french-more-than-english/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [When you have an idea for a story, you want those characters to reach as many people as you can. I think you normally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/when-you-have-an-idea-for-a-story-you-want-those-characters-to-reach/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/what-language-shall-i-borrow-to-thank-thee-dearest-friend-for-this/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [I love to create interesting textures with language. You can do it as long as it seems like a discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/i-love-to-create-interesting-textures-with-language-you-can-do-it-as/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [The Black Mountain poet I like most is the early Creeley. Those early poems seem very lyrical and very traditional, with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-black-mountain-poet-i-like-most-is-the-early-creeley-those-early/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Philip Larkin has a tough honesty and sense of humor that I find irresistible, as a contemporary poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/philip-larkin-has-a-tough-honesty-and-sense-of-humor-that-i-find/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [The decision to write in prose instead of poetry is made more by the readers than by writers. Almost no one is interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-decision-to-write-in-prose-instead-of-poetry-is-made-more-by-the/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [I don't think the creative writing industry has helped American poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/i-don-t-think-the-creative-writing-industry-has-helped-american-poetry/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/distance-not-only-gives-nostalgia-but-perspective-and-maybe/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Our most famous writers are Faulkner and Eudora Welty and Flannery O'Connor. It would make sense that the poetry would reflect some of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/our-most-famous-writers-are-faulkner-and-eudora-welty-and-flannery-o/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Poetry, almost by definition, calls attention to its language and form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/poetry-almost-by-definition-calls-attention-to-its-language-and-form/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Fiction is about intimacy with characters, events, places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/fiction-is-about-intimacy-with-characters-events-places/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [The young people have MTV and rock and roll. Why would they go to read poetry? Poetry belongs to the Stone Age. It awakens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-young-people-have-mtv-and-rock-and-roll-why-would-they-go-to-read/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) [Explore all 70 Robert Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. 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