Nothing in the universe can travel at the speed of light, they say, forgetful of the shadow's speed. Howard Nemerov More Quotes by Howard Nemerov More Quotes From Howard Nemerov Robert Frost had always said you mustn't think of the last line first, or it's only a fake poem, not a real one. I'm inclined to agree. Howard Nemerov fake-peoplerealthinking I would talk in iambic pentameter if it were easier. Howard Nemerov writinglifefunny Language is remarkable, except under the extreme constraints of mathematics and logic, it never can talk only about what it's supposed to talk about but is always spreading around. Howard Nemerov logiclanguagesensual Obvious enough that generalities work to protect the mind from the great outdoors; is it possible that this was in fact their first purpose? Howard Nemerov purposemindfirsts I think there was a revolution in poetry, associated chiefly with Eliot and Pound; but maybe it is of the nature of revolutions or of the nature of history that their innovations should later come to look trivial or indistinguishable from technical tricks. Howard Nemerov innovationliteraturethinking Once in awhile you have a thought, and you rhyme it. Howard Nemerov rhymerhymingliterature The historian is terribly responsible to what he can discern are the facts of the case, but he's nothing if he doesn't make out a case. Howard Nemerov responsiblecasesfacts I've never read a political poem that's accomplished anything. Poetry makes things happen, but rarely what the poet wants. Howard Nemerov politicalliteraturewant When I was starting to write, the great influence was T.S. Eliot and after that William Butler Yeats. Howard Nemerov yeatsliteraturewriting I like all my children, even the squat and ugly ones. Howard Nemerov my-childrenuglychildren I've thought of the last line of some poems for years and tried them out, It wouldn't work because the last line was much too beautiful for the poem. Howard Nemerov hypnosisbeautifulyears For a Jewish Puritan of the middle class, the novel is serious, the novel is work, the novel is conscientious application why, the novel is practically the retail business all over again. Howard Nemerov seriousliteratureclass History is where tensions were. Howard Nemerov tension Religion and science both profess peace (and the sincerity of the professors is not being doubted), but each always turns out to have a dominant part in any war that is going or contemplated. Howard Nemerov religiouswarscience That so much of our experience, or the stereotype which passes for it should be dealt with by means of the short story is perhaps a symptom not unnoticeable elsewhere in the public domain of an unlovely cynicism about human character. Howard Nemerov storiescharactermean Mostly the thought and the verse come inseparably. In my poem Poetics, it's as close as I come to telling how I do it. Howard Nemerov versespoeticliterature We think about sex obsessively except during the act, when our minds tend to wander. Howard Nemerov mindsexthinking Short stories amount for the most part to parlour tricks, party favours with built-in snappers, gadgets for including recognition and reversals Howard Nemerov gadgetspartystories Children, to be illustrious is sad. Howard Nemerov children Why are stamps adorned with kings and presidents? That we may lick their hinder parts and thump their heads. Howard Nemerov presidentpowerkings
