A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of

A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of

Robert Morgan
22/09/2025
17/10/2025

A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.

(6 evaluate)
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of
A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of

Hearken, children of the word, to the utterance of Robert Morgan: “A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.” These words proclaim a truth as old as the muses themselves. For the shell of a poem—the form—is but the vessel. Without voice, it is a silent urn; without gesture, it is a lifeless statue; without discovery, it is a map with no journey; without metaphoric connection, it

Robert Morgan
Robert Morgan

American - Poet Born: 1944

With the author

Teaching writing over the years intrudes on your own writing in important ways, taking away some of the excitement of poetry.

Robert Morgan

I did not have a very literary background. I came to poetry from the sciences and mathematics, and also through an interest in Japanese and Chinese poetry in translation.

Robert Morgan

Alchemy is the art of far and near, and I think poetry is alchemy in that way. It's delightful to distort size, to see something that's tiny as though it were vast.

Robert Morgan

I don't think poetry is something that can be taught. We can encourage young writers, but what you can't teach them is the very essence of poetry.

Robert Morgan

I learned to impersonate the kind of person that talks about poetry. It comes from teaching, I think.

Robert Morgan

Philip Larkin has a tough honesty and sense of humor that I find irresistible, as a contemporary poet.

Robert Morgan

Part of what we love about poetry is the fact that it seems ancient, that it has an authority of ancient language and ancient form, and that it's timeless, that it reaches back.

Robert Morgan

Among the American contemporaries I read with most enjoyment are several North Carolinians. I think the best poetry being written these days is being written by Southerners.

Robert Morgan

Same category

I still read Donne, particularly his love poems.

Carol Ann Duffy

As far as I am concerned, poetry is a statement concerning the human condition, composed in verse.

N. Scott Momaday

Rap is rhythm and poetry. Hip-hop is storytelling and poetry as well.

Ajay Naidu

Everyone needs solitude, especially a person who is used to thinking about what she experiences. Solitude is very important in my work as a mode of inspiration, but isolation is not good in this respect. I am not writing poetry about isolation.

Wislawa Szymborska

For poetry there exists neither large countries nor small. Its domain is in the heart of all men.

Giorgos Seferis

My obsession with time informs my poetry so completely it is hard for me to summarize it. We want time to pass, for new things to happen to us, we want to hold on to certain moments, we don't want our lives to end.

John Barton

I read poetry every day. I look at it as an exercise, a kind of T'ai Chi for writers. It teaches economy of form.

Poetry, fiction as novels or short stories - these are autonomous as created by their authors. They should stand on their own, like pieces of furniture that should be judged as to their usefulness, elegance.

F. Sionil Jose
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Have 6 Comment A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of

NNPhuc nghia Nguyen

I’m curious about the relationship between form and creativity suggested here. Does working within a strict structure actually encourage more inventive metaphoric connections, or does it risk constraining imagination? How do poets negotiate this tension between discipline and inspiration? It also raises a deeper question about evaluation: when judging a poem, should the emphasis be on technical skill, expressive voice, or the interplay of both elements?

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MHBui Thi Mai Huong

The quote makes me think about how much of poetry’s appeal relies on emotional resonance versus structural elegance. Can a poem be technically perfect yet fail if it lacks authentic voice or evocative gestures? Conversely, can a poem that bends or breaks traditional forms succeed purely through metaphor and discovery? I’d love a perspective on whether modern poetry prioritizes one aspect over the other and how that affects longevity and impact.

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LHMy Linh Ho

I’m struck by the inclusion of discovery as a key component. Does this mean that poetry should surprise even its own creator, or is it more about revealing truths to the reader? How does discovery interact with pre-defined forms, which might impose limitations on spontaneity? I’d be interested in examples of poems where rigid form enhances rather than restricts the sense of exploration and insight.

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DHDuy Ha

Morgan’s point raises a question about the teaching of poetry. Should students focus more on developing their voice and sense of discovery, or should form be prioritized first? It seems that form without expressive content could feel lifeless, yet a lack of structure might dilute the impact of metaphorical connections. I’m curious about methods for achieving an ideal balance between these elements in both writing and critique.

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TTNguyen Thien Trung

The idea that poetry needs gesture and metaphoric connection makes me wonder about accessibility. Are poems with strong form but subtle or abstract voice harder for readers to engage with? I’d love a perspective on how poets can craft a piece that satisfies both the technical rigor of form and the intuitive, almost performative aspects that make it resonate with audiences.

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