Quotes From "Best Words Best Order: Essays On Poetry" By Stephen Dobyns

One writes a poem when one is so taken up...
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One writes a poem when one is so taken up by an emotional concept that one is unable to remain silent. Stephen Dobyns
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Hesitancy is the surest destroyer of talent. One cannot be timorous and reticent, one must be original and loud. New metaphors, new rhythms, new expressions of emotion can only spring from unhindered gall. Nothing should interfere with that intuition--not the fear of appearing stupid, nor of offending somebody, nor jeopardizing publication, nor being trivial. The intuition must be as unhindered as a karate chop. Stephen Dobyns