Poetry Quote by John Berryman — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“I do strongly feel that among the greatest pieces of luck for high achievement is ordeal. Certain great artists can make out without it, Titian and others, but mostly you need ordeal. My idea is this: the artist is extremely lucky who is presented with the worst possible ordeal which will not actually kill him. At that point, he's in business: Beethoven's deafness, Goya's deafness, Milton's blindness, that kind of thing.”

“I am so wise I had my mouth sewn shut.”

“Even ivory towers need central heating.”

“… the fisherman’s daughter grinding serenity in her coffee grinder.”

“for we all have”

“Out there somewhere there is a love who will never dream of calling you too much. Who speaks, like you, in poetry and candlewax and stardust. Who runs outside on stormy nights to howl at the moon. Who collects bones and sings incantation and talks to the ancestors. And that lover, when you find him or her, will see you and know you – just as you are and just as you should be.”

“The Magi”

“Sometimes, a child will go under”