“I can remember, I think it was 1967, sitting in the First Unitarian Church in Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, and seeing Phil Levine come out on the little stage. He sat on the edge and said, "You know, sometimes it's hard not to hate my country for the way I feel, at times, but I won't let that happen." And then he read, "They Feed They Lion," this incredibly powerful, incantatory poem that was inspired in part by the burning of Detroit in 1967 and the riots that followed.” ThinkingKnowsWayFeelsFirstsLittlesSaidI CanCountrySometimesHardHappensRememberHateChurchPowerfulSeeingStageSittingInspiredEdgesBurningSatLionsSantaRiotDetroitBarbaraVistasUnitarianSanta BarbaraUnitarian Church Author:Sam Hamill
“I think a lot of American poets are swimming-pool Soviets. A lot of them have taken the comfortable, self-protective route too often. I know that I certainly have. That's easy to do.” ThinkingKnowsSelfEasyTakenPoetComfortableSwimmingPoolRoutesProtectiveSwimming Pool Author:Sam Hamill
“That's one of those questions that would just love to have a pat answer. You know, poetry's job is to make us feel good. Poetry exists to allow us to express our innermost feelings. There isn't one role for poetry in society. There are many roles for poetry. I wrote a poem to seduce my wife. I wrote a poem when I asked her to marry me. Poetry got me laid. Poetry got me married.” KnowsFeelsFeelingsJobsAnswersRolesWifeMarriedMy WifeFeel GoodSeducingMarry MeGood Poetry Author:Sam Hamill
“If only we could touch the things of this world at their center, if we could only hear tiny leaves of birch struggling toward April, then we would know.” IfsKnowsWorldKnowledgeStruggleThis WorldTinyApril Book:Destination zero: poems, 1970-1995 Source: Destination zero: poems, 1970-1995
