Poets on Poetry

The nucleus of every poem, worthy of the name, is rhythmically formed in the Poet's mind, during a trance, like the suspension of his horned habits of thought, by the supra logical reconciliation of conflicting emotional ideas. The poet learns to induce the trance in self-protection whenever he feels unable to resolve an emotional conflict by simple logic.

ROBERT GRAVES


For last years Voice belong to last years language,
And next years words await another voice
the sentence that is right
where every word is at home
taking its place to support the others
the word neither different nor ostentatious
an easy commerce of the old and the new
the common word exact without vulgarity
the formed word precise but not pedantic
the complete consort dancing together.

TS Eliot Little Gidding


Poetry creates a bridge of feelings between the material world and the world of creativity and spirit. Poets by definition, get to the raw feelings behind the masks we wear.

Quoted from “I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye” a book Dealing with Sudden Death.