I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood So that I could break the rule I learnt all the words and broke them up To make a single word: Homeland.
Mahmoud DarwishRead
The importance of poetry is not measured, finally, by what the poet says but by how he says it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that the impact of poetry lies in the expression rather than just the content.
Mahmoud Darwish emphasizes that the true value of poetry is rooted in the manner of its expression, suggesting that poetic technique, style, and emotional resonance often carry more significance than the literal meaning of the words themselves. This perspective invites readers to appreciate not only the message conveyed by poets but also the artistic craftsmanship involved in their work, which can evoke deeper feelings and connections.
Themes
PoetryExpressionArtisticStyleEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a poetry workshop to emphasize the importance of style in writing.
More from Mahmoud Darwish
All quotes βFar away, our dreams have nothing to do with what we do. The wind carries the night, and passes on, aimless.
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Some people ask, 'How do you attract the young and so many different people when your poetry is complicated and different?' I say, 'My accomplishment is that my readers trust me and accept my suggestions for change.'
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Against barbarity, poetry can resist only by confirming its attachment to human fragility like a blade of grass growing on a wall while armies march by.
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The days have taught you not to trust happiness because it hurts when it deceives.
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A person can only be born in one place. However, he may die several times elsewhere: in the exiles and prisons, and in a homeland transformed by the occupation and oppression into a nightmare.
Mahmoud DarwishRead
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