Art Quote by W. H. Auden

As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience, genuine language and detail, poetry is everything that headline news is not. It takes us…

— Naomi Shihab Nye

What's the function of poetry? It's to express general truths, to connect with the reader and make him think: 'Wow, I've experienced that, but…

— Giles Andreae

I just think that limits the kinds of experiences that people can have with poetry. But, poetry will survive; I don't worry about that.…

— Edward Hirsch

That's one of those questions that would just love to have a pat answer. You know, poetry's job is to make us feel good.…

— Sam Hamill

I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not…

— Mark Strand

On the one hand poetry is useless. It can't change the world materially. On the other hand it is a basic part of human…

— Bei Dao

Poetry has historically been allied with religion and morals; it has served the purpose of penetrating the mysterious depths of things.

— John Dewey

Poetry has always mattered, through human history, through all kinds of cultures, all kinds of violence and human desolation, as well as periods of…

— Adrienne Rich

Poetry can save the world. I'm a real believer in its power of healing and transforming. I wish more people read it ... Poetry…

— Carol Muske-Dukes

Good poetry is like effective prayer, it feeds the human spirit, it nourishes, it puts us in touch with forces far greater than ourselves

— Lorna Goodison

I personally believe the role of poets as poets (which is something different from our obligations as citizens, community members, humans) is to write…

— Matthew Zapruder

Poetry expands the senses and keeps them in prime condition. It keeps you aware of your nose, your eye, your ear, your tongue, your…

— Ray Bradbury