Edward Hirsch Poetic Quotations

Poetry is a form of necessary speech... I have sought to restore the aura of sacred practice that accompanies true poetic creation, to honor both the rational and the irrational elements of poetry.

I found a comfort in trying to solve some poetic problems because there were human ones I just couldn't solve.

The line is a way of framing poetry. All verse is measured by lines. The poetic line immediately announces its difference from everyday speech and prose.