... sometimes I can feel it, the way we are pouring slowly toward a curve and around it through something dark and soft, and we are bound to each other.
Sharon OldsRead
Poems come from ordinary experiences and objects, I think. Out of memory - a dress I lent my daughter on her way back to college; a newspaper photograph of war; a breast self-exam; the tooth fairy; Calvinist parents who beat up their children; a gesture of love; seeing oneself naked over age 50 in a set of bright hotel bathroom mirrors.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Poetry is inspired by everyday life and experiences.
In this quote, Sharon Olds expresses the idea that poetry springs from common experiences and objects in our lives. She illustrates how various moments, objects, and memories—from personal relationships to mundane activities—serve as the foundation for her poetic inspiration, emphasizing that poetry is deeply rooted in the ordinary aspects of life.
Themes
PoetryExperienceMemoryOrdinaryExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop about creative writing, one might say this quote to encourage participants to draw inspiration from their daily lives.
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