Dennis O'Driscoll Quotes

The priority for the poet must be his poetry, the poetry must determine his agenda and deadlines

I would say that poetry for most people is like the Christmas tree that is kept in the attic and is taken down in its appropriate season.

The rhythm of poetry and the routine of work are interdependent for some poets

I know I am in the grip of a true poem when I can hardly bear to read it calmly at first.

Poetry is nothing less than an aspiration to absolute truth.

When human beings banish God from the world, they make Gods of themselves.

Poetry is most convincing when its elements have been lived.

What we call inspiration in poetry is usually a visitation of words and rhythms rather than ideas.

If poets spoke their poetry , they would not need to write it.

I am wedded to the notion that Inspiration is the sine que non , the non negotiable prelude to writing a poem.

Writers are not neccessarily articulate simply because poetry is their stock-in-trade.

A defining mark of poetry is that it defies definition.

Poetry is a highly visible art in Ireland ; in our rapidly secularised society, it has become a kind of erzatz religion, applying the elevated ceremonial language without the divisive doctrine.

Genuine poetry reminds us how little we truly know, it is a vehicle for discovery, not a conduit for omniscience.

Everybody has certain preoccupations they return to.What looks like an obsession, is often something more modest, namely a return to the fray through a somewhat different angle of vision..from a different stage of your experience.