My sonnet asserts that the sonnet still lives. My epic, should such fortune befall me, asserts that the heroic narrative is not lost - that it is born again, perhaps in some form which seems hardly at first recognizable, but nevertheless, there it is, born again. As poets we do not ask permission before we begin to practise, for there is no authority to license us. We do not inquire whether it is still possible to pen a drama, for the answer to that question is ours alone to give. It is our drama, spoken or sung, that asserts our right to the title of poet. It is our decision that counts, and not the opinion of some theatre management, or the ponderings of the critic, or even the advice of our friendliest mentors. It is our decision, our assertion, that alters the whole state of affairs.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Poets assert the right to use traditional forms like sonnets and epics by choice, not by permission from authorities.
- In plain terms
- You do not need permission to write poems; your decision makes you a poet.
- What can you take from it?
- Claim your art without asking for approval.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who grants permission to create?
- How do you assert your voice?
Another view
Some forms may feel closed to certain voices due to cultural barriers.
More from James Fenton
The composer does not want the self-sufficiency of a richly complex text: he or she wants to feel that the text is something in need of musical setting.
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