Poetry operates by hints and dark suggestions. It is full of secrets and hidden formulae, like a witch's brew.
Interpretation
Poetry conveys deeper meanings through subtle hints and obscure imagery.
This quote by Anthony Hecht suggests that poetry is not merely a straightforward expression of thoughts but rather an intricate craft that relies on suggestion and insinuation. It highlights the complexity and depth of poetry, comparable to a mysterious concoction, rich in unseen layers and hidden meanings that invite interpretation and exploration.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a poetry workshop discussing the nuances of writing.
A lot of the fun lies in trying to penetrate the mystery; and this is best done by saying over the lines to yourself again and again, till they pass through the stage of sounding like nonsense, and finally return to a full sense that had at first escaped notice.
Who could not return from a visit to Jack Vance's world, without feeling that he had been somewhere unique, that he had experienced things unavailable in our mundane world?
To hell with reality! I want to die in music, not in reason or in prose. People don't deserve the restraint we show by not going into delirium in front of them. To hell with them!
What I learned from Lennon was something that did stay with me my whole career, which is to be very straightforward. I actually love talking about taking pictures, and I think that helps everyone.
I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.
I believe in plot, in development of character, in the effect of the passage of time, in a good story - better than something you might find in the newspaper. And I believe a novel should be as complicated and involved as you're capable of making it.
Writing is more about imagination than anything else. I fell in love with words. I fell in love with storytelling.
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