"Poetry is a house you enter alone but where everyone lives."
This quote by Kevin Young suggests that poetry is an intimate, personal space yet one that is shared universally. It's like entering a private home, but once inside, one finds that the experiences, emotions, and stories it contains resonate with many others. Essentially, despite being individually discovered, poetry holds common human truths and feelings that connect all its readers.
"To read a poem is to share someone else's dreams."
This quote by Kevin Young suggests that when we engage with poetry, we not only gain access to another person's creative imagination but also share in their emotions, thoughts, and unique perspectives. Poetry acts as a bridge between individuals, enabling us to empathize with others and expand our understanding of the world through the lens of another's dreams and experiences.
"The best books are like lovers: you want to start over with them as soon as you finish."
This quote by Kevin Young suggests that just as one wants to reconnect with a beloved partner after the end of a relationship, one desires to re-experience the joy, learning, or emotional connection gained from reading an exceptional book upon its completion. It implies that great books leave such a profound impact on readers that they wish to immerse themselves in their narratives once more, capturing the essence of the enchantment and wisdom those books have provided.
"Poetry is a way of saying something when nothing else will do."
This quote suggests that poetry has a unique ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, or ideas that ordinary language may fail to convey effectively. It implies that sometimes the complexity, depth, or intensity of our emotions or experiences can only be adequately expressed through the art of poetry. In essence, poetry serves as an essential tool for human expression and connection when other means fall short.
"Writing poems is one way I make sense of the world and it's also a way of trying to change it."
This quote emphasizes that writing poetry serves dual purposes for the author. Firstly, it is a means to understand and interpret the complexities of the world around us. The act of creating poetry helps in organizing thoughts, feelings, and experiences into a coherent narrative, thereby enabling a deeper understanding of ourselves and our environment. Secondly, poetry can be used as a tool for change. By shedding light on important issues, challenging societal norms, or inspiring emotions and actions, poets can influence the way people think and behave, thus striving to effect positive change in their world.
Race is the true protagonist of the American novel. Our most popular classic fictions have known this, from 'Moby Dick' to 'Beloved;' all these books take on race or talk it out, often in other forms; they are less 'horror stories for boys' than ghost stories from a haunted conscience.
- Kevin Young
Music and the blues, they have taught me a lot. I think in this book, 'Book Of Hours,' there is this blues sensibility. There are moments of humor even in the sorrow, and I'm really interested in the way that the blues have that tragic-comic view of life - what Langston Hughes called 'laughing to keep from crying.'
- Kevin Young
If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.