Robert Lowell quotes

Robert Lowell was an influential American poet and a leading figure in the confessional poetry movement. His work explored themes of history, politics, and personal struggle. He became renowned for his innovative style and profound emotional insight. Here are 12 of his quotes:

The light at the end of the tunnel is just the light of an oncoming train. (Robert Lowell)
If youth is a defect, it is one we outgrow too soon. View quote
Robert Lowell
The Lord survives the rainbow of His will. View quote
Robert Lowell
In the end, there is no end. View quote
Robert Lowell
A brackish reach of shoal off Madaket-- The sea was still breaking violently and night Had steamed into our North Atlantic Fleet, When the drowned sailor clutched the drag-net. Light Flashed from his matted head and marble feet, He grappled at the net With the coiled, hurdling muscles of his thighs: The corpse was bloodless, a botch of reds and whites, Its open, staring eyes Were lustreless dead-lights Or cabin-windows on a stranded hulk Heavy with sand. View quote
Robert Lowell
Once fishing was a rabbit's foot-- O wind blow cold, O wind blow hot, Let suns stay in or suns step out: Life danced a jig on the sperm-whale's spout-- The fisher's fluent and obscene Catches kept his conscience clean. View quote
Robert Lowell
Poetry is not the record of an event: it is an event. View quote
Robert Lowell
I was overcome with an attack of pathological enthusiasm. View quote
Robert Lowell
In the end, every hypochondriac is his own prophet. View quote
Robert Lowell
Their monument sticks like a fishbone in the city's throat. View quote
Robert Lowell
In Boston serpents whistle at the cold. (Robert Lowell)
Talking about the past is like a cat's trying to explain climbing down a ladder. View quote
Robert Lowell