61 Quotes by A. R. Ammons

I have a life that did not become,

With the first step, the number of shapes the walk might take is infinite, but then the walk begins to define itself as it goes along, though freedom remains total with each step: any tempting side road can be turned into an impulse, or any wild patch of woods can be explored. The pattern of the walk is to come true, is to be recognized, discovered.

One can’t have it both ways and both ways is the only way I want it.

You have your identity when you find out, not what you can keep your mind ON, but what you can’t keep your mind OFF.

Things go away to return, brightened for the passage.

I can’t tell you where a poem comes from, what it is, or what it is for: nor can any other man. The reason I can’t tell you is that the purpose of a poem is to go past telling, to be recognised by burning.

It’s not a love of poetry readings that attracts those who do come to them but theater.

If we ask a vague question, such as, ‘What is poetry?’ we expect a vague answer, such as, ‘Poetry is the music of words,’ or ‘Poetry is the linguistic correction of disorder.’

For though we often need to be restored to the small, concrete, limited, and certain, we as often need to be reminded of the large, vague, unlimited, unknown.