George Oppen was an American poet known for his minimalist and direct style of poetry. His work often explores the relationship between the individual and society, as well as the essence of human existence. Oppen's poetry holds a significant place in 20th-century American literature and has had a profound influence on later poets.
Related Quotes
“Poetry must be at least as powerful as music, but I am not sure that it is possible.”
Source: New Collected Poems
“The first question at that time in poetry was simply the question of honesty, of sincerity.”
“There are situations which cannot honorably be met by art.”
Source: Selected Prose, Daybooks, and Papers
Source: New Collected Poems
Source: New Collected Poems
“Things explain each other, not themselves.”
Source: The Selected Letters of George Oppen
“The self is no mystery, the mystery is / That there is something for us to stand on”
Source: George Oppen: Selected Poems