And at least in poetry you should feel free to lie. That is, not to lie, but to imagine what you want, to follow the direction of the poem.
Mark StrandRead
The reality of a poem is a very ghostly one. It suggests, it suggests, it suggests again.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote conveys that poetry evokes emotions and thoughts through subtle implications rather than direct statements.
Mark Strand's quote suggests that poetry operates on a level of nuance and suggestion. Instead of presenting clear-cut meanings, poetry often leaves much to the reader's interpretation, creating a haunting and ethereal quality. This ghostly nature of poetry invites the audience to engage with the text, exploring its depths and allowing personal insights to surface through the layers of suggestion.
Themes
PoetrySuggestionInterpretationEmotionsArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the power of art, I might say, 'As Mark Strand noted, the reality of a poem is a very ghostly one. It suggests, it suggests, it suggests again.'
More from Mark Strand
All quotes β...In another time, What cannot be seen will define us, and we shall be prompted To say that language is error, and all things are wronged By representation. The self, we shall say, can never be Seen with a disguise, and never be seen without one.
Mark StrandRead
Even this late it happens the coming of love, the coming of light. You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves, stars gather, dreams pour into your pillows, sending up warm bouquets of air. Even this late the bones of the body shine and tomorrowβs dust flares into breath.
Mark StrandRead
No voice comes from outer space, from the folds of dust and carpets of wind to tell us that this is the way it was meant to happen, that if only we knew how long the ruins would last we would never complain.
Mark StrandRead
From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,_x000D_ A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your room_x000D_ And made its way to the arm of the chair where you, looking up_x000D_ From your book, saw it the moment it landed. That's all_x000D_ There was to it.
Mark StrandRead
There's a certain point, when you're writing autobiographical stuff, where you don't want to misrepresent yourself. It would be dishonest.
Mark StrandRead
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I think I probably would have enjoyed to keep my own private pain out of my work. But I was changed by my audience who said your private pain which you have unwittingly shown us in your early songs is also ours.
Pete TownshendRead