When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't teach poetry. This is ridiculous.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Well you can't teach the poetry, but you can teach the craft.
Most people who write and publish poetry teach or do something else.
Poetry is a special use of language that opens onto the real. The business of the poet is truth telling, which is why in the Celtic tradition no one could be a teacher unless he or she was a poet.
People say you can't teach writing, but I think that's nonsense.
And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.
Teaching writing over the years intrudes on your own writing in important ways, taking away some of the excitement of poetry.
I never had much education in English poetry as such.
I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We can encourage young writers, but what you can't teach them is the very essence of poetry.
Some people swear by writing courses, but whether it really helps American poetry, I have doubts.
Even though I was a reluctant reader in junior high and high school, I found myself writing poems in the back of class.
No opposing quotes found.