Alarms Quote by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
“The judges who awarded the 1980 Commonwealth Poetry Prize to my first collection of poems, Crossing the Peninsula and Other Poems, cited with approval and with no apparent conscious irony my early poem, "No Alarms." The poem was composed probably sometime in 1974 or 1975, and it complained about the impossibility of writing poetry - of being a poet - under the conditions in which I was living then.”
About This Quote
Source Award Announcement: Commonwealth Poetry Prize, 1980
The poet reflects on how oppressive circumstances make creating poetry feel impossible, highlighting the tension between artistic desire and harsh reality.
In simple terms: Hard conditions hinder poetic creation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address barriers to creativity.
Themes
creativity
oppression
artistic struggle
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
literary
personal
inspirational
When to use this quote
- living under political turmoil
- personal hardship
- artistic block
- seeking inspiration
Key Concepts
existentialism
censorship
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you create art under pressure?
- What supports sustain artistic drive?
A Different Perspective
Even with obstacles, poetry can emerge through perseverance.
![“I feel compassionate, because I know [students] all have to go down this road of suffering and it's going to be tough.” quote by Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/26d/shirley-geok-lin-lim-3190_compassion_i-feel-compassionate-because-i-know-stud_214814.jpg)
