--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like the older I get, the truer it…" description: "\"I feel like the older I get, the truer it feels that I'm only going have an investment in a poem if it allows or forces me to bring something that's su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/tracy-k-smith-8847_asks_i-feel-like-the-older-i-get-the-truer-it_130604.jpg" --- # I feel like the older I get, the truer it feels that I'm… ![“I feel like the older I get, the truer it feels that I'm only going have an investment in a poem if it allows or forces me to bring something that's supremely me onto the page. I used to think that the speaker of a poem was talking to someone else, to some ideal reader or listener, but now I think…” quote by Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/tracy-k-smith-8847_asks_i-feel-like-the-older-i-get-the-truer-it_130604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/tracy-k-smith-8847_asks_i-feel-like-the-older-i-get-the-truer-it_130604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/tracy-k-smith-8847_asks_i-feel-like-the-older-i-get-the-truer-it_130604.jpg) > “I feel like the older I get, the truer it feels that I'm only going have an investment in a poem if it allows or forces me to bring something that's supremely me onto the page. I used to think that the speaker of a poem was talking to someone else, to some ideal reader or listener, but now I think that speakers - poets - are talking to themselves. The poem allows you to pose questions that you have you ask of yourself knowing that they are unanswerable.” [Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-k-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet sees writing as a personal quest, where the poem becomes a dialogue with oneself, exposing unanswerable questions. **In simple terms:** Poetry is a self‑conversation that reveals deep questions. Key Takeaway Write to explore your own truths. Themes self‑discovery creativity introspection Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative writing - therapy sessions Key Concepts poetry identity questioning Questions to Reflect On - What unanswerable question does your writing reveal? - How does self‑dialogue shape your art? A Different Perspective Poetry may not provide clear answers, only deeper inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Self knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowing/) [Talking to someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-to-someone/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When I run into a person or a kid that comes up and gives me the spiel about, 'Hey, I got your record at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-run-into-a-person-or-a-kid-that-comes-up-and-gives-me-the/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [There's something really terrible about having your BlackBerry next to your bed or having your laptop in the living room when you're talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/there-s-something-really-terrible-about-having-your-blackberry-next/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [After all, most writing is done away from the typewriter, away from the desk. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-k-smith/) > [Everything that disappears/Disappears as if returning somewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-k-smith/everything-that-disappears-disappears-as-if-returning-somewhere/) [Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-k-smith/) > [I feel most alive, most electric with faith, breath, and courage, when I think of God as a current that runs through all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-k-smith/i-feel-most-alive-most-electric-with-faith-breath-and-courage-when-i/) [Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-k-smith/) > [I want to just go to places where writers don't usually go, where people like me don't usually show up, and say, 'Here are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-k-smith/i-want-to-just-go-to-places-where-writers-don-t-usually-go-where/) [Tracy K. 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