Mark Strand Quotes

A collection of quotes by Mark Strand.

Mark Strand (1934-2014) was an acclaimed American poet, essayist, and translator. Born on April 11, 1934, in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, Strand moved to the United States with his family at a young age. He grew up in various cities and eventually settled in the United States permanently.

Strandâ€™s poetic career began in the late 1960s, and he soon gained recognition for his distinctive and introspective style. His poetry often explored themes of time, memory, mortality, and the nature of existence. His debut poetry collection, "Sleeping with One Eye Open," was published in 1964 and was followed by numerous other critically acclaimed collections, including "The Story of Our Lives" (1973), "Blizzard of One" (1998), and "Man and Camel" (2006). His work earned him numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1999 for "Blizzard of One."

In addition to his poetry, Strand was also a respected essayist and translator. He penned several books of essays, including "The Weather of Words" (2000) and "A Blizzard of One" (2000), exploring a wide range of subjects related to literature and art. As a translator, he primarily focused on the works of the renowned Mexican poet and essayist, Octavio Paz.

Throughout his career, Mark Strand received numerous honors for his contributions to literature. He served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1990 to 1991 and was a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Mark Strand passed away on November 29, 2014, leaving behind a rich and influential body of work.

And at least in poetry you should feel free to lie. That is,

And at least in poetry you should feel free to lie. That is, not to lie, but to imagine what you want, to follow the direction of the poem.

Those hours given over to basking in the glow of an imagined

Those hours given over to basking in the glow of an imaginedfuture, of being carried away in streams of promise by a love ora passion so strong that one felt altered forever and convincedthat even the smallest particle of the surrounding world wascharged with purpose of impossible grandeur; ah, yes, andone would look up into the trees and be thrilled by the wind-loosened river of pale, gold foliage cascading down and by thehigh, melodious singing of countless birds; those moments, somany and so long ago, still come back, but briefly, like firefliesin the perfumed heat of summer night.

Life Poetry Nostalgia Regret

A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of c

A life is not sufficiently elevated for poetry, unless, of course, the life has been made into an art.

Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented.

Usually a life turned into a poem is misrepresented.

I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of

I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony.

It's very hard to write humor.

It's very hard to write humor.

Poetry is something that happens in universities, in creativ

Poetry is something that happens in universities, in creative writing programs or in English departments.

The future is always beginning now.

The future is always beginning now.

I believe that all poetry is formal in that it exists within

I believe that all poetry is formal in that it exists within limits, limits that are either inherited by tradition or limits that language itself imposes.

A great many people seem to think writing poetry is worthwhi

A great many people seem to think writing poetry is worthwhile, even though it pays next to nothing and is not as widely read as it should be.

I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, b

I certainly can't speak for all cultures or all societies, but it's clear that in America, poetry serves a very marginal purpose. It's not part of the cultural mainstream.

Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in th

Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure.

I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes

I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality.

And yet, in a culture like ours, which is given to material

And yet, in a culture like ours, which is given to material comforts, and addicted to forms of entertainment that offer immediate gratification, it is surprising that so much poetry is written.

Poetry is, first and last, language - the rest is filler.

Poetry is, first and last, language - the rest is filler.