"To be a poet is to place oneself in a certain relation with the unknown."
This quote by Saint-John Perse suggests that being a poet, or any artist for that matter, involves embracing an intimate connection with the mysteries of life, the unknown aspects of the universe and human experience. Poets seek to explore, understand, and convey these enigmas through their work. It's not merely about creating beautiful words, but about establishing a relationship – a dialogue – with the intangible, the elusive, and the profound elements that lie beyond our immediate comprehension.
"The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now, as we ought to live, is to live as we are able and willing to let life be a poem."
This quote suggests that the future is not a predetermined destination but rather an endless sequence of present moments. It encourages us to make each moment count by living intentionally, passionately, and creatively - turning our lives into a poem. In essence, Perse's words remind us to live fully in the present and embrace life with purpose and artistry.
"The past has vanished into the nothingness from which it came; the future is uncharted, an ocean of drowned dreams."
This quote by Saint-John Perse suggests that the past no longer exists and should be considered as insubstantial and transient as it originated. It also implies that the future is unknown and filled with potentialities that remain unrealized, like a vast ocean of untapped dreams or possibilities. Overall, the quote suggests a perspective on time that acknowledges its fluidity and invites us to be mindful of both our past experiences and future aspirations while remaining aware of their elusive nature.
"In the depths of the desert, there sleeps an invisible stream."
This quote by Saint-John Perse suggests that even in seemingly barren or desolate environments, there exists hidden potential or life waiting to be discovered. It underscores the idea that beauty, power, or resources can sometimes lie undetected, requiring patience, perseverance, and perhaps a deeper level of awareness to uncover them. The "invisible stream" symbolizes hope, resilience, or possibilities that may seem elusive but are always present, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
"Poetry and prose are two sides of a single soul, which, in one case, takes flight, in the other takes root."
This quote by Saint-John Perse suggests that poetry (flight) and prose (taking root) are two manifestations of a singular creative spirit or "soul." Poetry allows this spirit to soar into the realm of imagination, emotions, and abstract concepts, while prose provides a grounding in concrete facts, logic, and real-world situations. Essentially, poetry expresses the intangible aspects of our inner world, while prose roots us in the tangible reality we experience daily.
The poet existed among the cave men; he will exist among men of the atomic age, for he is an inherent part of man. Even religions have been born from the need for poetry, which is a spiritual need, and it is through the grace of poetry that the divine spark lives forever in the human flint.
- Saint-John Perse
Astronomers have been bewildered by the theory of an expanding universe, but there is no less expansion in the moral infinite of the universe of man. As far as the frontiers of science are pushed back, over the extended arc of these frontiers one will hear the poet's hounds on the chase.
- Saint-John Perse
In truth, every creation of the mind is first of all 'poetic' in the proper sense of the word; and inasmuch as there exists an equivalence between the modes of sensibility and intellect, it is the same function that is exercised initially in the enterprises of the poet and the scientist.
- Saint-John Perse
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