“Writing poetry, then, is an unsocial way of manufacturing a thoroughly social product.”

—  Richard Wilbur

National Book Award Acceptance Speech (1957)
Context: Writing poetry, then, is an unsocial way of manufacturing a thoroughly social product. Because he must shield his poetry in its creation, the poet, more than other writers, will write without recognition. And because his product is not in great demand, he is likely to look on honors and distinctions with the feigned indifference of the wallflower. Yet of course he is pleased when recognition comes; for what better proof is there that for some people poetry is still a useful and necessary thing — like a shoe.

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Richard Wilbur 24
American poet 1921–2017

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