David Whyte
David Whyte
David Whytewas an English professional footballer who played as a striker...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
numbness feelings tides
But what would that be like feeling the tide rise out of the numbness inside
inspirational giving-up other-worlds
You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all the other worlds Except the one in which you belong.
numbness absent edges
Absent the edge, we drown in numbness.
inspirational disappointment self
Being young and trying to catch a glimpse of the depths, of the true self, of the soul, or whatever human beings have called it over the centuries, we often find ourselves surrounded by bossy, hectoring voices trying to short-circuit our personal experience by super-imposing their own disappointments. Much of this bossiness masquerades as an education.
loss thinking might
It might be liberating to think of human life as informed by losses and disappearances as much as by gifted appearances, allowing a more present participation and witness to the difficulty of living.
fierce lyrical aspect
There's a fierce practicality and empiricism which the whole imaginative, lyrical aspect of poetry comes from.
looks elbows manipulation
Poetry is a street fighter. It has sharp elbows. It can look after itself. Poetry can't be used for manipulation; it's why you never see good poetry in advertising.
mainstream-society interesting quality
By definition, poetry works with qualities and dynamics that mainstream society is reluctant to face head-on. It's an interesting phenomenon that by necessity, poetry is just below the radar.
alertness-is discipline alertness
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
loss looks gains
A good poem looks life straight in the face, unflinching, sincere, equal to revelation through loss or gain.
body felt
The great poems are not about experience, but are the experience itself, felt in the body.
loss dishonesty conscious
The fear of loss, in one form or another, is the motivator behind all conscious and unconscious dishonesties.