Charles Olson quotes

What does not change is the will to change. (Charles Olson)
Forgive me if I sleep until I wake up.
Charles Olson
This morning of the small snow I count the blessings, the leak in the faucet which makes of the sink time, the drop of the water on water.
Charles Olson
When will government cease being a nuisance to everybody?
Charles Olson
The heroes of the present will retreat to the imitation they are anyhow.
Charles Olson
And all now is war Where so lately there was peace, and the sweet brotherhood, the use of tilled fields.
Charles Olson
Whatever you have to say, leave The roots on, let them Dangle And the dirt Just to make clear Where they come from.
Charles Olson
I'm trying to climb up both walls at once.
Charles Olson
I'm one of the cliches that has grown up.
Charles Olson
Atlantis will rise again.
Charles Olson
Were all moving, moving, moving. Isnt it nice? (Charles Olson)
The poem, for me, is simply the first sound realized in the modality of being.
Charles Olson
I hope you're representing the devil's advocate.
Charles Olson
You can read everybody. It's not even interesting to tell the truth because to some extent it's false.
Charles Olson
I sound like Homer. I mean Winslow Homer.
Charles Olson
I defer to all these other American poets who, for some reason, I both envy and admire.
Charles Olson
There is a grace of life which is still yours, my dear Europe.
Charles Olson
You don't help people in your poems. I've been trying to help people all my life - that's my trouble.
Charles Olson
I'm sorry, but I was born with a towel on my head.
Charles Olson
I don't live for poetry. I live far more than anybody else does.
Charles Olson
Fact is based upon vulgar matter. (Charles Olson)
I was playing catch with the European audience.
Charles Olson
I am happy to have some friends here in the kitchen.
Charles Olson
When I saw him, he was at the door, but it did not matter, he was already sliding along the wall of the night, losing himself in some crack of the ruins. That it should have been he who said, "The kingfishers! who cares for their feathers now?” His last words had been, "The pool is slime.”.
Charles Olson
The legends are legends. Dead, hung up indoors, the kingfisher will not indicate a favoring wind, or avert the thunderbolt. Nor, by its nesting, still the waters, with the new year, for seven days. It is true, it does nest with the opening year, but not on the waters.
Charles Olson