And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers. I'm thinking of one in particular whom I won't name, a good poet, and he reads in such a dry, boring way, your eyes start drooping.
Norman MacCaigBut you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to be very influenced by a particular person.
Norman MacCaigPeople haven't got the interest in long long works these days. A lack of interest which I share.
Norman MacCaigIn fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and people like that. At first I was interested in seeing what they were up to, what they were doing, why they were doing it. They never moved me in the way that one is moved by true poetry.
Norman MacCaig