At four lines, with the quatrain, we reach the basic stanza form familiar from a whole range of … - James Fenton

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Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses- especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.

James Fenton

At four lines, with the quatrain, we reach the basic stanza form familiar from a whole range of English poetic practice. This is the length of the ballad stanza, the verse of a hymn, and innumerable other kinds of verse.

Familiar, Four, Hymns, Innumerable, Poetic, Practice

Same Author Quotes

Lyric poetry is, of course, musical in origin. I do know that what happened to poetry in the twentieth century was that it began to be written for the page. When it's a question of typography, why not? Poets have done beautiful things with typography - Apollinaire's 'Calligrammes,' that sort of thing.

Beautiful, Lyric Poetry, Musical, Origin, Poets, Twentieth

Imitation, if it is not forgery, is a fine thing. It stems from a generous impulse, and a realistic sense of what can and cannot be done.

Done, Fine, Imitation, Realistic, Sense, Thing

The lullaby is the spell whereby the mother attempts to transform herself back from an ogre to a saint.

Humorous, Lullaby, Mom, Mother, Saint, Spell

The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.

Child, Children, Like, Poetry, Writing

Windbags can be right. Aphorists can be wrong. It is a tough world.

Aphorists, Right, Tough, Tough World, World