George Oppen
1908 - 1984
5
Quotes
Biography
George Oppen was an American poet and a key figure in the Objectivist movement along with his wife Mary Oppen. He was born in 1908 in New Rochelle, New York, and grew up in San Francisco. Oppen's poetry often focused on themes of social justice, nature, and the human experience. He took a break from writing poetry to work as a political activist, but returned to it later in life and won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1969 for his collection 'Of Being Numerous.' Oppen's work is known for its clarity, precision, and profound philosophical insights.
Famous Quotes (5)
1
It is time that we had our own images.
2
I wanted to write a poem that you would understand. For what good is it to me if you can't understand it?
3
A civilized man is one who will give a serious answer to a serious question.
4
The world cannot be explained in words. It can only be recorded.
5
A sense of history and a sense of the permanence of language are the ballast any poet needs.