A poet looks at the world the way a man looks at a woman.

A poet looks at the world the way a man looks at a woman.

Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.

Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.

When the brain gets as dry as an empty nut,
When the reason stands on its squarest toes,
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When the brain gets as dry as an empty nut,
When the reason stands on its squarest toes,
When the mind (like a beard) has a "formal cut,"--
There is a place and enough for the pains of prose;
But whenever the May-blood stires and glows,
And the young year draws to the "golden prime,"
And Sir Romeo sticks in his ear a rose,--
Then hey! for the ripple of laughing rhyme!

As civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.

As civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.

A poet must leave traces of his passage, not proof.

A poet must leave traces of his passage, not proof.

Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.

Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.

The courage of the Poet is to keep ajar the door that leads into madness.

The courage of the Poet is to keep ajar the door that leads into madness.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

Prose--words in their best order;--poetry--the best words in
their best order.

Prose--words in their best order;--poetry--the best words in
their best order.