Do you know how it is when one wakes
at night suddenly and asks,
listening to the pounding heart: what more do you want,
insatiable?

Do you know how it is when one wakes at night suddenly and asks, listening to the pounding heart: what more do you want, insatiable?

Czeslaw Milosz

Two attributes of a poet, avidity of the eye and the desire to describe that which he sees.

Two attributes of a poet, avidity of the eye and the desire to describe that which he sees.

What is poetry which does not save nations or people?

What is poetry which does not save nations or people?

A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death.

A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death.

The revolt against one's environment is usually 'shame' of one's environment.

The revolt against one's environment is usually 'shame' of one's environment.

On the day the world ends A bee circles a clover, A fisherman mends a glimmering net.

On the day the world ends A bee circles a clover, A fisherman mends a glimmering net.

Poetry is news brought to the mountains by a unicorn and an echo.

Poetry is news brought to the mountains by a unicorn and an echo.

I am composed of contradictions, which is why poetry is a better form for me than philosophy

I am composed of contradictions, which is why poetry is a better form for me than philosophy

Consolation Calm down. Both your sins and your good deeds will be lost in oblivion.

Consolation Calm down. Both your sins and your good deeds will be lost in oblivion.

Irony is the glory of slaves.

Irony is the glory of slaves.

Yet falling in love is not the same as being able to love.

Yet falling in love is not the same as being able to love.

You see how I try To reach with words What matters most And how I fail.

You see how I try To reach with words What matters most And how I fail.

The purpose of poetry is to remind us / how difficult it is to remain just one person.

The purpose of poetry is to remind us / how difficult it is to remain just one person.

I have defined poetry as a 'passionate pursuit of the Real.

I have defined poetry as a 'passionate pursuit of the Real.

Learning To believe you are magnificent. And gradually to discover that you are not magnificent. Enough labor for one human life.

Learning To believe you are magnificent. And gradually to discover that you are not magnificent. Enough labor for one human life.

When a writer is born into a family, the family is finished.

When a writer is born into a family, the family is finished.

Do not feel safe. The poet remembers.
You can kill one, but another is born.
The words are written down, the deed, the date.

Do not feel safe. The poet remembers. You can kill one, but another is born. The words are written down, the deed, the date.

It is impossible to communicate to people who have not experienced it the undefinable menace of total rationalism.

It is impossible to communicate to people who have not experienced it the undefinable menace of total rationalism.

Language is the only homeland.

Language is the only homeland.