John Barton

I sometimes like to tinker with poems that have failed, ones that I have sent aside. Even years afterward, I will revisit them if there is something about them that I cannot give up on. ↗

— John Barton

#aside #cannot #even #failed #give

I would not say I chose to write long poems on a conscious level. The long poem has been a relative constant. ↗

— John Barton

#chose #conscious #constant #i #level

If poetry alters the way in which the reader views the world, then it has had its desired effect. ↗

— John Barton

#desired #effect #had #poetry #reader

In the past, poetry came in the form of spells and chants used to effect change. ↗

— John Barton

#change #effect #form #in the past #past

Most victims of my autobiographical verse are either far too polite, remarkably understanding unaware that I have written poems about them. ↗

— John Barton

#autobiographical #either #far #i #most

Poetry is but another form of inquiry into the nature of phenomena, using with its own unique procedures and tools. ↗

— John Barton

#form #inquiry #into #nature #own

Poets can't resist the dramatic pull of their lives and so inevitably write autobiographical verse. ↗

— John Barton

#dramatic #inevitably #lives #poets #pull

Reading should be a repeat performance. ↗

— John Barton

#reading #repeat #should

Some readers allow their prejudices to blind them. A good reader knows how to disregard inappropriate responses. ↗

— John Barton

#blind #disregard #good #how #inappropriate

Sometimes poetry is inspired by the conversation entered into by reading other poems. ↗

— John Barton

#conversation #entered #inspired #into #other