Before people complain of the obscurity of modern poetry, they should first examine their consciences and ask themselves with how many people and on how many occasions they have genuinely and profoundly shared some experience with another; they might also ask themselves how much poetry of any period they can honestly say that they understand.
More from Wystan Hugh Auden
A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.
Permalink to quote #35 The surest sign that a man has a genuine taste of his own is that he is uncertain of it.
Permalink to quote #37 What's the good of going to Wales?
Permalink to quote #34