10 Great Quotes About Poets and Poetry by Lawrence Ferlinghetti*

“Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone.”

“Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations.”

“Poetry is a naked woman, a naked man, and the distance between them.”

“We have seen the best minds of our generation destroyed by boredom at poetry readings.”

“The art has to make it on its own, without explanations, and it’s the same for poetry. If the poem or the painting has to be explained, then it’s a failure in communication.”

“Poetry is the shortest distance between two humans.”

“Decide if a poem is a question or a declaration, a meditation or an outcry.”

 “What are poets for, in such an age? What is the use of poetry?”

“The state of the world calls out for poetry to save it.”

“If you would be a poet, create works capable of answering the challenge of apocalyptic times, even if this meaning sounds apocalyptic.”

– Lawrence Ferlinghetti

*Lawrence Ferlinghetti celebrates his 100th birthday today!