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March 25, 2007
poetry makes compasion reasonable
Poetry, by giving dignity and utterance to our distress, enables us to hope, makes compassion reasonable.
The truth is this: instead of remembering they are prophets and the descendants of prophets, the poets have swapped roles with entertainers and culture-peddlers. They have refused the crown of thorns.
I now see there is no way for the poet to avoid misunderstanding, even abuse, when he follows his prophetic vocation to lead his fellowmen towards sanity and light. If he offers his hand in friendship and love, he must expect someone will try to chop it off at the shoulder. ... A poet is someone who has a strong sense of self and feels his life to be meaningful.
Joy, fullness of feeling, is the core of the creative mystery. My dominant mood is that of ecstasy and gratitude.
I want to be remembered as someone who believed that a great poem was the noblest work of man and that no one ever wrote one who didn't want to get out of hell.
Irving Layton
Posted by amin at March 25, 2007 5:17 PM