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Quote by Pattiann Rogers

“Poetry is so close to music, not just in cadence and sound but in silences. That's why, to me, I can't talk about prose poems. I can talk about poetic prose.”

Quote by Pattiann Rogers

Author

Pattiann Rogers

Pattiann Rogers is an American poet born on March 23, 1940. Her poetry is known for its profound emotion and rich imagination, covering themes such as nature, history, and human experience. more

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“For me, prose is never a poem. Because with prose there are so very few tools to create the music. And one of the most important tools missing is the ability to create silences, as you can in poetry by how you fashion the lines and breaks within the lines and stanzas.”

Important Lines Ability Silence Break Fashion Missing Tools Prose

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“Often I'm struck by something that I read; then I go and research it a little more, especially if I begin a poem, and I find out that I need to know more. Then I usually get intrigued and excited about whatever it is I'm writing about.”

Ifs Knows Needs Writing Littles Research Excited Intrigued

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“We're all vulnerable in our various ways, and what we are physically, our bodies, is what has developed with the goal of keeping that life safe and intact, at least until we have procreated. That's what our bodies are, the protection of life.”

Way Body Goal Safe Various Protection Vulnerable

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“I do love writing prose interspersed with the poetry of other people. Their rhythms break into my prose and create a connection.”

People Writing Break Connections Rhythm Prose

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“A poetic list is a talent in itself. You can write a list of things, and it can be boring.”

Writing Talent Boring Lists Poetic

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“As far as I can tell, writing the essays didn't change the way I wrote poetry. Although the essays contain scattered passages that might be called lyrical, they often contain closed statements of what is only suggested in the poetry.”

Way Writing I Can Might Statements Passages Essays Lyrical

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“Poetry doesn't function by saying things straightforwardly because the language is too imprecise, too limited often, to address the underlying subject of most poems.”

Language Subjects Function Addresses

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“Often when I write poetry I don't quite know what I'm saying myself. I mean, I can't restate the poem. The meaning of the poem is the poem.”

Knows Writing Mean I Can

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“My object when writing prose is to write as clearly as possible. I think I know what I'm saying in prose, and I want others to understand it and to be able to restate it.”

Thinking Knows Want Writing Able Objects Prose

Author:Pattiann Rogers

“The greatest tragedy that can befall a poet is to be praised by being misunderstood.”

Poet Tragedy Misunderstood Being Misunderstood

Author:Pattiann Rogers