“A word or a phrase or a line is not a poem. A poem is the exploration and shaping of an experience. A real poem demands intelligence, imagination, passion, understanding, experience and not least a knowledge of the craft.”

— Vernon Scannell

A Proper Gentleman, 1977

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Vernon Scannell 33

British boxer and poet 1922–2007

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“Who says my poems are poems?
My poems are not poems.
When you know that my poems are not poems,
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Variant translation:
Who says my poems are poems?
My poems are not poems.
After you know my poems are not poems,
Then we can begin to discuss poetry!
"Zen Poetics of Ryokan" in Simply Haiku: A Quarterly Journal of Japanese Short Form Poetry (Summer 2006) http://www.hermitary.com/articles/ryokan_poetics.html
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