A. R. Ammons Quotes

A collection of quotes by A. R. Ammons.

A. R. Ammons (1926-2001) was an American poet known for his vivid and expansive vision of the natural world. Born in North Carolina, Ammons served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before attending Wake Forest University on the G.I. Bill. He published numerous collections, including "Garbage" (1993) and "Sphere: The Form of a Motion" (1974), and received several prestigious awards for his work, including the National Book Award for Poetry. Ammons' poetry often explored themes of transcendence, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of all living things, cementing his place as an influential figure in American poetry.

Even if you walk exactly the same route each time - as with

Even if you walk exactly the same route each time - as with a sonnet - the events along the route cannot be imagined to be the same from day to day, as the poet's health, sight, his anticipations, moods, fears, thoughts cannot be the same.

Is it not careless to become too local when there are four h

Is it not careless to become too local when there are four hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone.

The poet exposes himself to the risk. All that has been said

The poet exposes himself to the risk. All that has been said about poetry, all that he has learned about poetry, is only a partial assurance.

Poetry leads us to the unstructured sources of our beings, t

Poetry leads us to the unstructured sources of our beings, to the unknown, and returns us to our rational, structured selves refreshed.

Besides the actual reading in class of many poems, I would s

Besides the actual reading in class of many poems, I would suggest you do two things: first, while teaching everything you can and keeping free of it, teach that poetry is a mode of discourse that differs from logical exposition.

I am grateful for - though I can't keep up with - the flood

I am grateful for - though I can't keep up with - the flood of articles, theses, and textbooks that mean to share insight concerning the nature of poetry.

That's a wonderful change that's taken place, and so most po

That's a wonderful change that's taken place, and so most poetry today is published, if not directly by the person, certainly by the enterprise of the poet himself, working with his friends.

Once every five hundred years or so, a summary statement abo

Once every five hundred years or so, a summary statement about poetry comes along that we can't imagine ourselves living without.

Everything is discursive opinion instead of direct experienc

Everything is discursive opinion instead of direct experience.

If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we ex

If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we expect a vague answer, such as, 'Poetry is the music of words,' or 'Poetry is the linguistic correction of disorder.'

Probably all the attention to poetry results in some value,

Probably all the attention to poetry results in some value, though the attention is more often directed to lesser than to greater values.