Quotation by

John Colville

He fertilizes a phrase or a line of poetry for weeks and then gives birth to it in a speech.

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Understanding this quote AI Analysis

John Colville means that a poet carefully develops and nurtures an idea or a single line over a long period, much like a seed growing before it blooms. When the poet finally shares their work aloud, it is the result of this slow, thoughtful process of creation and refinement.

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Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emoti…

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A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.