John Barton
John Barton
conversation entered poetry
Sometimes poetry is inspired by the conversation entered into by reading other poems.
audience censor others poets realise sensitive
Poets have to be sensitive to their audience, but it does not mean that they censor themselves. I realise my audience is diverse. Some will read with empathy and curiosity while others will take offense.
form inquiry nature poetry procedures using
Poetry is but another form of inquiry into the nature of phenomena, using with its own unique procedures and tools.
easily expect poem poetry reader
No poem is easily grasped; so why should any reader expect fast results?
agent poetry reader uses
An experienced reader uses the poem as an agent of inquiry. This makes poetry very exciting, unstable, and interactive.
impose poet
The poet must decide not to impose his feelings in order to write without sentimentality.
certain happen hard hold informs lives obsession poetry summarize time
My obsession with time informs my poetry so completely it is hard for me to summarize it. We want time to pass, for new things to happen to us, we want to hold on to certain moments, we don't want our lives to end.
desired poetry views
If poetry alters the way in which the reader views the world, then it has had its desired effect.
came effect form poetry spells
In the past, poetry came in the form of spells and chants used to effect change.
belong close community fact lives poets
The community of poets I belong to is not as close as it used to be, if only for the fact that our lives have become busier: jobs, children, and the like.
benefits companies compete offers package pick whoever
These companies will compete to be picked, and we'll pick whoever offers the package that better benefits the patient.
cannot poems tinker
I sometimes like to tinker with poems that have failed, ones that I have sent aside. Even years afterward, I will revisit them if there is something about them that I cannot give up on.
poems
To me many short poems read and write like beginnings that simply whet my appetite; I want to get over that.
people
We have to have people in the right position, we have to do something to get in straight.