And yet, in a culture like ours, which is given to material comforts, and addicted to forms of entertainment that offer immediate gratification, it is surprising that so much poetry is written.

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.

A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of course, the life has been made into an art.

A great many people seem to think writing poetry is worthwhile, even though it pays next to nothing and is not as widely read as it should be.