---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that in a poem, even when the…"
description: "\"I know that in a poem, even when the speaker is speaking from the poet's experience, there's always something that's borrowed, some authority that sits..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/tracy-k-smith-8847_able_i-know-that-in-a-poem-even-when-the-spea_1519681.png"
---

#  I know that in a poem, even when the speaker is speaking…

![“I know that in a poem, even when the speaker is speaking from the poet's experience, there's always something that's borrowed, some authority that sits outside of the poet that the poem has claimed. There's a dramatic pitch that makes the speaker capable of saying something more courageous or…” quote by Tracy K. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/tracy-k-smith-8847_able_i-know-that-in-a-poem-even-when-the-spea_1519681.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/tracy-k-smith-8847_able_i-know-that-in-a-poem-even-when-the-spea_1519681.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/tracy-k-smith-8847_able_i-know-that-in-a-poem-even-when-the-spea_1519681.png)

> “I know that in a poem, even when the speaker is speaking from the poet's experience, there's always something that's borrowed, some authority that sits outside of the poet that the poem has claimed. There's a dramatic pitch that makes the speaker capable of saying something more courageous or stranger or simply other than what the poet would be able to say.”

[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.

Poems borrow external authority, allowing speakers to express bold, unfamiliar ideas.

**In simple terms:** Poems use outside voices for daring expression.

Key Takeaway

Embrace external perspectives in writing.

Themes

creativity voice authority

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

theoretical inspirational

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- literary analysis
- performance poetry

Key Concepts

intertextuality poetic license speaker identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does borrowed authority affect authenticity?
- When is it appropriate to adopt another voice?

A Different Perspective

Risk of losing personal authenticity.

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[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Borrowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Outside Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-poet-5614031/) [Poem Claimed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-claimed-5614028/) [Poem Speaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-speaker-5614030/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-experience-2349630/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Speakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speakers/) [Speaking Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-poet-5614029/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

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