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John Ashbery Quotes

Poet

John Ashbery is an influential American poet born on July 28, 1927. Known for his innovative poetry style and rich imagination, his work has had a profound impact on postmodern poetry.

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All Life Inspirational Inspirational Life Thinking Way Knows People Poetry Want Ifs May Moments Writing Past Poet Seems Art Beautiful Certain Doe

Famous John Ashbery Quotes

“A little bunny or some kind of ferret was probably there too, and bore witness as only rodents can.”

Poetry Poem Rodents Bunny Ferret

Author:John Ashbery

“I like poems you can tack all over with a hammer and there are no hollow places.”

Poetry Hammers Hollow

Author:John Ashbery

“Part of the strength of Pollock and Rothko's art, in fact, is this doubt as to whether art may be there at all.”

May Art Facts Poetry Literature Doubt Pollock

Author:John Ashbery

“I want a bedroom near the sky, an astrologer's cave Where I can fashion eclogues that are chaste and grave.”

Want I Can Poetry Sky Fashion Poet Graves Bedroom Caves Astrology Chaste

Book:A Wave: Poems

Source: A Wave: Poems

“Some certified nut Will try to tell you it's poetry, (It's extraordinary, it makes a great deal of sense) But watch out or he'll start with some New notion or other.”

Trying Poetry Deals Watches Poet Extraordinary Notion Nuts

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“And we may be led, then, upward through more Powerful forms of poetry, past columns With peeling posters on them, to the country of indifference. Meanwhile if the swell diapasons, blooms Unhappily and too soon, the little people are nonetheless real.”

People Ifs May Littles Art Real Country Past Form Poetry Powerful Poet Indifference Columns Posters Peeling

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“There is the view that poetry should improve your life. I think people confuse it with the Salvation Army.”

People Thinking Life Inspirational Should Poetry Views Inspirational Life Army Salvation Salvation Army Improve Your Life

Author:John Ashbery

About the Author

Born: July 28, 1927
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 97

Books & Sources

Selected poemsRelated source material

A Wave: PoemsRelated source material

Shadow train: poemsRelated source material

John Ashbery, Lee Harwood, Tom RaworthRelated source material

Notes from the Air: Selected Later PoemsRelated source material

Self-Portrait in a Convex MirrorRelated source material

Some TreesRelated source material

The Tennis Court Oath: A Book of PoemsRelated source material

Flow ChartRelated source material

Reported sightings: art chronicles, 1957-1987Related source material

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