Then you develop a kind of critical sense about what you write. You can tell when something is good, but it would be just as good in somebody else's work too. You want to hold out for those things only you can say.
James DickeyRead
I want a fever, in poetry: a fever, and tranquillity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire for passionate, intense emotions in poetry, balanced with a sense of calmness.
James Dickey's quote reflects the intrinsic tension between fervor and peace that can be found in art, particularly poetry. He yearns for a creativity that is both deeply moving and soothing, suggesting that true artistic expression combines powerful emotional experiences with moments of serenity and clarity. This duality enriches poetry, allowing it to resonate with the complexities of human emotion.
Themes
PoetryEmotionArtCreativityIntensityTranquility
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire poets at a workshop to embrace both passion and calm in their writing.
More from James Dickey
All quotes βA poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.
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What a view, i said again. The river was blank and mindless with beauty. It was the most glorious thing I have ever seen. But it was not seeing, really. For once it was not just seeing. It was beholding. I beheld the river in its icy pit of brightness, in its far-below sound and indifference, in its large coil and tiny points and flashes of the moon, in its long sinuous form, in its uncomprehending consequence.
James DickeyRead
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