Quote

I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream.

For most Americans, poetry plays no role in their everyday lives. But also for most Americans, contemporary painting or jazz or sculpture play no role either. I'm not saying poetry is singled out as a special thing to ignore.

And, I mean, I think poetry does need to be met to some extent, especially, I guess, 19th century poetry, and for me, it's just been so worth the effort. It's like I'm planting a garden in my head.

For whatever reason, people, including very well-educated people or people otherwise interested in reading, do not read poetry.

I think poetry always lives its life, and people come to it and people go away from it, 'people' in the sense of larger numbers of people. It's as though you begin to think that poetry is a resource, and that at certain times people seem to need it or want it or can find sustenance in it, and at other times they can't.

People want poetry. They need poetry. They get it. They don't want fancy work.

I don't think the creative writing industry has helped American poetry.

Poetry isn't just different from prose, it's more important for the human species.

You don't help people in your poems. I've been trying to help people all my life - that's my trouble.