Adrian Mitchell Quotes

• Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Inspirational, Funny, People

  Poems (1964) p. 8

  48 Copy quote

• Poetry is an extra hand. It can caress or tickle. It can clench and fight.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Fighting, Hands, Caress

  1972 'Poetry Lives', in the Sunday Times,13 Feb.

  11 Copy quote

• I was run over by the truth one day.Ever since the accident I've walked this way

  Adrian Mitchell

  Running, One Day, Way

  Adrian Mitchell (1997). “Heart on the Left: Poems, 1953-1984”, Bloodaxe Books Limited

  6 Copy quote

• I want to speak, to sing to total strangers. It's my way of talking to the world.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Talking, Want, Way

  7 Copy quote

• When I am sad and wearyWhen I think all hope has goneWhen I walk along High HolbornI think of you with nothing on

  Adrian Mitchell

  Thinking, Think Of You, I Think Of You

  Adrian Mitchell (1997). “Heart on the Left: Poems, 1953-1984”, Bloodaxe Books Limited

  8 Copy quote

• There have always been poets who performed. Blake sang his Songs of Innocence and Experience to parties of friends.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Song, Party, Innocence And Experience

  7 Copy quote

• Written poetry is different. Best thing is to see it in performance first, then read it. Performance is more provocative.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Different, Firsts, Provocative

  4 Copy quote

• The maiden Olympics had more to protest about than mere war, though. Central to its ethos was a rejection of two establishments the political one, certainly, but also that of the wider poetry world itself. It changed poetry for ever in the UK, ... It led to readings all over the country. You suddenly got more women reading and publishing poems, as well as gay guys and poets from all over the world. Until that time, published poetry had been very university-based white, male, middle-class. We were trying to break poetry out of its academic confines.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Country, War, Reading

  7 Copy quote

• The man who believes in giraffes would swallow anything.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Believe, Men, Giraffe

  Adrian Mitchell (1997). “Heart on the Left: Poems, 1953-1984”, Bloodaxe Books Limited

  4 Copy quote

• I would have walked on the waterBut I wasn't fully insured.And the BMA sent a writ my wayWith the very first leper I cured.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Firsts, Leper

  Adrian Mitchell (1997). “Heart on the Left: Poems, 1953-1984”, Bloodaxe Books Limited

  4 Copy quote

• Lovers lie around in itBroken glass is found in itGrassI like that stuff

  Adrian Mitchell

  Lying, Glasses, Stuff

  4 Copy quote

• You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,You take the human being and you twist it all aboutSo scrub my skin with womenChain my tongue with whiskyStuff my nose with garlicCoat my eyes with butterFill my ears with silverStick my legs in plasterTell me lies about Vietnam.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Lying, Eye, Skins

  Adrian Mitchell (1968). “Out Loud”, Cape Goliard P.

  4 Copy quote

• Stadium rock and commercial rock are the opposite of what poetry needs. An audience of around 200 is ideal for poetry.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Rocks, Opposites, Needs

  11 Copy quote

• I don't like writing essays or theory.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Writing, Writing Essays, Theory

  6 Copy quote

• I use the language I use to my friends. They wouldn't believe me if I used some high-flown literary language. I want them to believe me.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Believe, Use, Boots

  4 Copy quote

• I use rock and jazz and blues rhythms because I love that music. I hope my poetry has a relationship with good-time rock'n roll.

  Adrian Mitchell

  Relationship, Rocks, Use

  4 Copy quote

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