John Ashbery

John Ashbery is an American poet. He was also a prominent art critic. His art criticism has been collected in the 1989 volume Reported Sightings, Art Chronicles 1957-1987, edited by the poet David Bergman.

Sourced

• There is the view that poetry should improve your life. I think people confuse it with the Salvation Army.
  • International Herald Tribune (Paris, October 2, 1989)

• "Did I say that? One says so many things, and the problem is they all get written down."
  • (In response to the question "Why do you call yourself anti-art?," Bard College, 2005)

• In the beginning there are those who don't quite fit in
  But are somehow okay. And then some morning
  There are places that suddenly seem wonderful:
  Weather and water seem wonderful,
  And the peaceful night sky that arrives
  In time to protect us, like a sword
  Cutting the blue cloak of a prince.
  • "A Snowball in Hell," April Galleons

• These two guys in the front yard--
  Are they here to help?
  • "Gorboduc," April Galleons