"You can make poems out of anger as well as tenderness. You can make poetry out of anything. It can be the ugliest of emotions. It doesn't have to be sweetness and light."
Tony HarrisonTiny Panda Quotes
Quotes by Tony Harrison
Tony Harrison, born on April 30, 1937, in Leeds, England, is a distinguished poet, playwright, and filmmaker whose work often explores themes of class, language, and social justice. Harrison gained prominence in the 1980s with his powerful verse, vividly depicting the struggles of the working class. His acclaimed poem "V" confronts the complexities of identity and heritage, establishing him as a voice of resistance in contemporary literature. Throughout his career, Harrison has left an indelible mark on the literary world, championing the importance of authenticity and human connection.
6 quotes found
"The Greek tragic mask is one of my main metaphors for the role of the poet. The eyes of the tragic mask are always open to witness even the worst, and the mouth is always open to make poetry from it. Neither ever close."
Tony Harrison
"For me, there is a paradox in poetry, which is like the paradox in tragedy. You have the most terrible subject, but it's in a form that is so sensually gratifying that it connects the surviving heart to the despairing intellect."
Tony Harrison
"Poetry is all I write, whether for books or readings or for the National Theatre or for the opera house and concert hall or even for TV."
Tony Harrison"You get early inoculation against the idea of success if you're a poet. When I published my first collection of sonnets, I sold about five copies; now kids study them for A level. Wanting to be successful in that other world of money or fame is not interesting. Poetry isn't like that, and it never has been."
Tony Harrison"I was well read and knew languages, but I didn't want to become Ezra Pound. I wanted to write poetry that people like my parents might respond to."
Tony Harrison