Things explain each other, not themselves.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
There are situations which cannot honorably be met by art.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The first question at that time in poetry was simply the question of honesty, of sincerity.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A pure mathematical series would be one in which each term is derived from the preceding term by a rule.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
The situation of the Old Left was the theory of Socialist Realism, etc. It seemed pointless to argue. We stayed carefully away from people who wrote for the New Masses.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the most beautiful thing in the world, A limited, limiting clarity I have not and never did have any motive of poetry But to achieve clarity.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
A discrete series is a series of terms each of which is empirically derived, each one of which is empirically true. And this is the reason for the fragmentary character of those poems.
quote by George Oppen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
Street
Ah these are the poor,
These are the poor –
Bergen street.
Humiliation,
Hardship...
Nor are they very good to each other;
It is not that. I want
An end of poverty
As much as anyone
For the sake of intelligence,
'the conquest of existence' –
It has been said, and is true –
And this is real pain,
[...] Read more
poem by George Oppen
Added by Dan Costinaş
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Romanian
Sara in Her Father's Arms
Cell by cell the baby made herself, the cells
Made cells. That is to say
The baby is made largely of milk. Lying in her father's arms,
the little seed eyes
Moving, trying to see, smiling for us
To see, she will make a household
To her need of these rooms - Sara, little seed,
Little violent diligent seed. Come let us look at the world
Glittering: this seed will speak,
Max, words! There will'be no other words in the world
But those our children speak. What will she make of a world
Do you suppose, Max, of which she is made.
poem by George Oppen
Added by Dan Costinaş
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Romanian