Words make love on the page like flies in the summer heat and the poet is only the bemused spectator. Charles Simic More Quotes by Charles Simic More Quotes From Charles Simic Silence is the only language god speaks. Charles Simic language silence speak 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 fun beautiful believe 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 dream beautiful thinking Poems are other people's snapshots in which we see our own lives. Charles Simic snapshots people 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 kitchen bed views 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-objects sculpture art 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 stars mind trying If the sky falls they shall have clouds for supper. Charles Simic sky clouds fall Making art in America is about saving one's soul. Charles Simic soul america art The ambition of much of today's literary theory seems to be to find ways to read literature without imagination. Charles Simic literary-theory ambition imagination 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 divorce class children 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 play chess moving To submit to chance is to reveal the self and its obsessions. Charles Simic obsession chance self Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket. Charles Simic firefighter poetry enough 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 born decision people 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 influence literature today A poem is an instant of lucidity in which Charles Simic lucidity organisms instant Here is something we can all count on. Sooner or later our tribe always comes to ask us to agree to murder. Charles Simic agree tribes murder
