Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those we have personality and emotion know what it means to want to escape from these things.

Every old poem is sacred.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

I have written some poetry that I don't understand myself.

The eye is the notebook of the poet.

Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the sky.

Sooner or later that which is now life shall be poetry, and every fair and manly trait shall add a richer strain to the song.

Each venture is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate with shabby equipment always deteriorating in the general mess of imprecision of feeling.

Homer has taught all other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.

Rhymes, meters, stanza forms, etc., are like servants. If the master is fair enough to win their affection and firm enough to command their respect, the result is an orderly happy household. If he is too tyrannical, they give notice; if he lacks authority, they become slovenly, impertinent, drunk and dishonest.