46 Quotes by John Barton

The point of an experiment is not to arrive at a predetermined end point, to prove or disprove anything, but to deliver a poem that reveals much about the process taken.

The poet must decide not to impose his feelings in order to write without sentimentality.

With this competition the patient ultimately wins out,

Writing can sometimes be exploitative. I like to take a few steps of remove in order to respect the privacy of the subject. If readers make the link, they have engaged with the poem.

We have had trouble with the power running game the past four weeks,

Most victims of my autobiographical verse are either far too polite, remarkably understanding unaware that I have written poems about them.

No poem is easily grasped; so why should any reader expect fast results?

Poets have to be sensitive to their audience, but it does not mean that they censor themselves. I realise my audience is diverse. Some will read with empathy and curiosity while others will take offense.

Poets can't resist the dramatic pull of their lives and so inevitably write autobiographical verse.