Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The art has to make it on its own, without explanations, and it’s the same for poetry. If the poem or the painting has to be explained, then it’s a failure in communication.

I didn’t know that painters and writers retired. They’re like soldiers – they just fade away.

Poets, come out of your closets, Open your windows, open your doors, You have been holed up too long in your closed worlds... Poetry should transport the public/to higher places/than other wheels can carry it.

Constantly risking absurdity and death whenever he performs above the heads of his audience, the poet, like an acrobat, climbs on rhyme to a high wire of his own making.

The state of the world calls out for poetry to save it.

Don't bow down to critics who have not themselves written great masterpieces.

Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone.