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Theodore Roethke Quotes

Poet

Theodore Roethke was an American poet known for his deep emotions and rich imagination. His poetry often explores themes of human emotion and the natural world, enjoying great popularity among readers.

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Famous Theodore Roethke Quotes

“But when I breath with the birds, The spirit of wrath becomes the spirit of blessings, And the dead begin from their dark to sing in my sleep.”

Spirit Dark Sleep Blessing Bird Breaths Wrath

Book:The achievement of Theodore Roethke: a comprehensive selection of his poems

Source: The achievement of Theodore Roethke: a comprehensive selection of his poems

“In a dark time, the mind begins to see.”

Mind Dark Dark Times

Author:Theodore Roethke

“The body and the soul know how to play In that dark world where gods have lost their way.”

Knows World Way Soul Play Body Lost Dark Know How Lovers Dark World

Book:The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke

Source: The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke

“What's madness but nobility of soul At odds with circumstance? The day's on fire! I know the purity of pure despair, My shadow pinned against a sweating wall, That place among the rocks--is it a cave, Or winding path? The edge is what I have........ ....... Dark,dark my light, and darker my desire. My soul, like some heat-maddened summer fly, Keeps buzzing at the sill. ~From "The Waking" by Theodore Roethke”

Knows Soul Light Desire Dark Path Fire Rocks Wall Circumstances Pure Despair Summer Shadow Madness Edges My Soul Heat Purity Waking Odds Caves Nobility Sweating Theodore

Author:Theodore Roethke

“In a dark time, the eye begins to see / I meet my shadow in the deepening shade...Dark, dark my light, and darker my desire.”

Light Eye Desire Dark Shadow Shade Dark Times

Author:Theodore Roethke

About the Author

Born: May 25, 1908
Died: August 1, 1963
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 180

Books & Sources

Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore RoethkeRelated source material

The Collected Poems of Theodore RoethkeRelated source material

On Poetry and Craft: Selected ProseRelated source material

Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63Related source material

Selected poemsRelated source material

The Collected PoemsRelated source material

On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose of Theodore RoethkeRelated source material

The Lost Son & Other PoemsRelated source material

The achievement of Theodore Roethke: a comprehensive selection of his poemsRelated source material

Words for the Wind: The Collected VerseRelated source material

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