I consider a poem to be a kind of experiment where a number of elements are brought together under test conditions to see how they will interact to create meaning or relevance. John Barton bringconditioncreate Change image and share on social
You can never step into the same book twice, because you are different each time you read it. John Barton bookreadstep Change image and share on social
Reading should be a repeat performance. John Barton performancereadrepeat Change image and share on social
No poem is easily grasped; so why should any reader expect fast results? John Barton easilyexpectfast Change image and share on social
Sometimes poetry is inspired by the conversation entered into by reading other poems. John Barton conversationenterinspire Change image and share on social
We are comfortable with the fact that we cannot know personally what happened in the world before we were born, yet we are uncomfortable with the notion that we will stop engaging with time at some point in the future. John Barton bearcomfortableengage share on social
I sometimes like to tinker with poems that have failed, ones that I have sent aside. Even years afterward, I will revisit them if there is something about them that I cannot give up on. John Barton afterwardfailgive Change image and share on social
Most victims of my autobiographical verse are either far too polite, remarkably understanding unaware that I have written poems about them. John Barton autobiographicalpoempolite Change image and share on social
I have been told by a member of the board of one of Canada's most prominent literary magazines that a submission of mine once caused a great deal of controversy. John Barton boardcanadacause Change image and share on social
