I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.
Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Favorite poems evoke strong emotional connections similar to our favorite children, though we may not openly express these preferences to avoid hurting others' feelings.
This quote reflects the intimate and often personal relationship we have with art, particularly poetry. Just like parents might have a favorite child, individuals often hold certain poems closer to their hearts due to their emotional resonance or personal significance. However, the act of sharing this favoritism can be sensitive, as it may imply a rejection of other valuable works or sentiments, showing the complexity of our attachments in both art and interpersonal relationships.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a poetry reading, one might quote this to illustrate the personal nature of poetic preferences.
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Don't want to be near you for the thoughts we share but the words we never have to speak.
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When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music, the sound, the meaning. I felt like calling him by phone, like a friend.