Quote by Delmore Schwartz

And hence the poet must seek to be essentially anonymous,He must die a little death each morning,He must swallow his toad and study his vomitas Baudelaire studied la charogne of Jeanne Duval.


And hence the poet must seek to be essentially anonymous,He

Summary

This quote suggests that for a poet to truly represent their art, they must embrace anonymity and detach themselves from their own ego. By metaphorically experiencing a small death every morning, the poet symbolically sheds their personal identity to give voice to the universal human experience. They must face the challenges and discomforts that come along with their craft - symbolized by swallowing a toad and examining their own inner turmoil - much like Baudelaire analyzed the repulsive and grotesque aspects of life through his study of Jeanne Duval's decaying corpse (la charogne). Overall, the quote emphasizes the need for poets to sacrifice and immerse themselves in their work for its true authenticity.

Topics

Poetry
By Delmore Schwartz
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations