Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket. Charles Simic More Quotes by Charles Simic More Quotes From Charles Simic Silence is the only language god speaks. Charles Simic languagesilencespeak I do believe that a poem needs to remind the reader of his or her own humanity, of what they are, of what they're capable of. Awaken them, in a sense, to the fact that there's a world in front of their eyes, that they have a body, they're going to die, the sky is beautiful, it's fun to be in a grassy field when the sun is shining—those kinds of things. Charles Simic funbeautifulbelieve I was already dozing off in the shade, dreaming that the rustling trees were my many selves explaining themselves all at the same time so that I could not make out a single word. My life was a beautiful mystery on the verge of understanding, always on the verge! Think of it! Charles Simic dreambeautifulthinking Poems are other people's snapshots in which we see our own lives. Charles Simic snapshotspeople A 'truth' detached and purified of pleasures of ordinary life is not worth a damn in my view. Every grand theory and noble sentiment ought to be first tested in the kitchen-and then in bed, of course. Charles Simic kitchenbedviews Found objects, chance creations, ready-mades (mass-produced items promoted into art objects, such as Duchamp's "Fountain"-urinal as sculpture) abolish the separation between art and life. The commonplace is miraculous if rightly seen. Charles Simic found-objectssculptureart The stars know everything, So we try to read their minds. As distant as they are, We choose to whisper in their presence. Charles Simic starsmindtrying If the sky falls they shall have clouds for supper. Charles Simic skycloudsfall Making art in America is about saving one's soul. Charles Simic soulamericaart The ambition of much of today's literary theory seems to be to find ways to read literature without imagination. Charles Simic literary-theoryambitionimagination In their effort to divorce language and experience, deconstructionist critics remind me of middle-class parents who do not allow their children to play in the street. Charles Simic divorceclasschildren Only poetry can measure the distance between ourselves and the Other. Charles Simic distance When you play chess alone it's always your move. Charles Simic playchessmoving To submit to chance is to reveal the self and its obsessions. Charles Simic obsessionchanceself There’s no preparation for poetry. Charles Simic preparation There are people who live inside their heads and their intellects. It's something one is born with and stuck with. It's not something you make a decision about. Charles Simic borndecisionpeople Roberto Calasso's survey of the renewed interest in myth demonstrates how decisive the gods' influence was on modern literature. Calasso is not only immensely learned; he is one of the most original thinkers and writers we have today. Charles Simic influenceliteraturetoday A poem is an instant of lucidity in which Charles Simic lucidityorganismsinstant Here is something we can all count on. Sooner or later our tribe always comes to ask us to agree to murder. Charles Simic agreetribesmurder There are knives that glitter like altars Charles Simic knivesblockdark
